Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Aug. 2 / Trend, H. Hasanov /
One of the branches of the transnational gas transmission line which will transfer energy from Turkmenistan to China, may pass through Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyz media quoted the Minister of Energy and Industry of Kyrgyzstan Osmonbek Artykbaev as saying.
According to an article in the Evening Bishkek newspaper, construction of the gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China, which passes through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China, was launched in 2007.
"The gas transportation system's capacity is about 40 billion cubic meters. Construction of the third line, which will increase capacity to 65 billion cubic meters, is currently under consideration. A section of the pipeline may be routed through Kyrgyzstan," the article stated.
"According to KyrgyzGas, in this case, Kyrgyzstan would act as a transit country with all relevant benefits. The issue has already been discussed by the parties on a preliminary basis," the article said.
Turkmenistan is one of the key players in the gas market in Central Asia and the Caspian region. China became a strategic partner and the largest creditor of the country's fuel and energy complex after the commissioning of the interstate gas pipeline in 2009.
At this point, the agenda includes an increase in the volumes of Turkmen fuel annually supplied to China through the construction of additional communications. It is expected that this issue will be discussed during the next state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Turkmenistan planned for the near future.
In 2011, Turkmen gas was transferred to the pipeline system of Guangdong Province - one of the most populous and fastest developing regions in China, located on the Pacific coast.