Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Aug. 3 / Trend H.Hasanov /
The builders of the Turkmengas State Concern from the beginning of the year while implementing East-West gas pipeline met the specified schedule, local media reported citing state concern.
During the first half-year welding of hundred kilometers of large diameter pipes was held. By the end of the year another 162 kilometers of pipes should be weld.
"In July, welders welded on average more than one kilometer a day," the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper said.
The information also said that work on the pipe insulation is held on almost 45 kilometers, of which more than 35 kilometers are laid in a trench.
General Contractor of the project is Turkmengas. This pipeline is laid to connect a bunch of fields in the east with the western part, bordering on the Caspian Sea, where it may be possible to enter world markets - Europe via the Caspian Sea and Russia on the coast.
The new pipeline with a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year will ensure diversification of gas export routes and will improve safety of domestic gas supply.
The next step would be laying Trans-Caspian pipeline to Azerbaijan on the Caspian seabed for delivery to Europe, another option could Caspian gas pipeline project to Russia.
East-West is scheduled to be operational by mid-2015, its approximate value is more than $2 billion. Foreign companies are involved in contracting works.
The pipeline is constructed from Shatlyk gas compressor station in Mary velayat (region) to Belek gas compressor station in the Balkan velayat. This gas pipeline will be the largest in the country, its diameter is 1420 mm, and length will be 766 kilometers.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov a month ago instructed the government to study in detail the issue of further funding for this project.