Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, June 11 / Trend H. Hasanov /
One of the priority directions of natural gas export from Turkmenistan in the future is the European vector, the Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary state news agency reported with reference to the Turkmengaz State Concern today.
Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and European Union have been negotiating for the last two years to implement the project of supplying gas to Europe, the article said.
In particular, the work is underway to form a legal framework aimed at determining the main principles and conditions for long-term cooperation in the gas sector.
"A high-level working group, composed of officials from all concerned parties: producers, transit countries and consumers, has been established," the article said. "At present, several rounds of negotiations have been held within the indicated group."
It was also stressed that Turkmenistan has a very definite and clear position concerning the development of international cooperation in the gas sector.
"Our country is ready for mutually beneficial and equal partnership with all concerned parties in this issue," a representative of the state concern said. "This fully eliminates the need to appeal for someone's assistance."
According to the interlocutor, being one of the world leaders in natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan seeks to export its gas to the world markets by diversifying the routes of its supplies.
Turkmenistan is one of the key players in the energy market in the Caspian region and Central Asia. In accordance with the Program for oil and gas development, it is planned to increase annual natural gas production to 250 billion cubic meters by 2030, mostly for export purposes.
In order to bind Turkmen resources to the European direction, it is necessary to lay the pipeline under the Caspian sea with the length of about 300 kilometers, from where fuel may reach Turkey, which shares borders with the European countries. Trans-Caspian project could become part of several large-scale projects such as Nabucco, AGRI, TANAP.
At this stage, the Trans-Caspian project is considered by experts as the most optimal way to deliver Turkmen gas to Europe.
In September 2011, the European Union provided a mandate to start negotiations on the preparation of an agreement between the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the Trans-Caspian project.
Ashgabat believes that agreement of the parties (Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan), territories of which are covered by the project, is sufficient for laying the pipe under the Caspian Sea, the legal status of which has not yet been determined.