Azerbaijan, Baku, August 22 / Trend G. Hasanov /
Search of opportunities for Turkmenistan to join the European project of Nabucco will be key issue in the agenda of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's tour to Turkey and Bulgaria scheduled for the nearest future, the experts in Ashgabat said.
"All three capitals are interested in clearing the situation," Turkmen economist said over phone on terms of anonymity. Turkmen economist said that Sofia and Ashgabat want to get an alternative but Ankara would like to act as regional dispatcher. Turkmenistan, along with Azerbaijan is one of the potential energy resources supplier in Europe.
"Moreover, Turkey may prompt and help two Turkic countries, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, to find compromise in the development of hydrocarbon resources in the frontier fields of the Caspian Sea," he said.
Many observers think that the renewed dispute of two key countries slightly restrains Turkmenistan's joining Nabucco. One of western diplomats accredited in Ashgabat said that these issues are not connected. Political will of the parties is necessary."
"Berdymukhamedov's schedule of meetings in Sofia and Ankara is able to give impetus to the project pipeline of Nabucco, he said.
At this stage, this project supported by EU and the USA is a key facility of European energy strategy designed to reduce energy dependence of Europe from Russia.
Nabucco gas pipeline is designed to pump fuel from Azerbaijani and Central Asian deposits through Turkey to Austria, via Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Nabucco's construction has not launched yet. Turkmenistan is one of the key players on the energy market in the Caspian region, in particular, on supply of natural gas and its participation might have brought more dynamics to the project.
Russia has imported practically all gas from Turkmensistana up to recent time. At present, Russia makes terms to revise the long-term contract.
Turkmen leadership is more mobilized to seek alternatives given a status quo.
A gas pipeline to China will be put into operation by late 2009. An additional route to neighboring Iran is being constructed. A protocol on acceleration of the Trans-Afghani project realization has been signed with Pakistan recently. Finally, Berdymukhamedov has recently stated about willingness to provide fuel for the European project of Nabucco.
During a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Berdymukhamedov stressed importance of the upcoming talks in Sofia. He added that the meeting with the Bulgarian leadership will promote further development of fruitful cooperation with the European Community within the dialogue between Turkmenistan and EU, the Turkmen governmental press-service said on August 22.
Berdymukhamedov said that Turkmenistan considers Bulgaria as an important partner, especially given geographic location of two countries that delivers broad opportunities to create new transportation routes between Asia and Europe.
Berdymukhamedov named comprehensive strengthening of traditionally friendly relations with the Turkish Republic, having both significant economic potential, and long historical ties between two fraternal peoples, as strategic trend of this course.
As it is known, there are signed memorandums on mutual understanding in energy cooperation between Bulgaria, Turkey and Turkmenistan. Moreover, two countries supported and became co-authors of the UN Convention on safety of inter-national pipelines initiated by Ashgabat.
In December 2008 Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov during his official visit to Turkmenistan said that he had received assurances from Ashgabat to supply two billion cubic meters of gas to Bulgaria through the existing gas system till Nabucco is established.
Bulgarian leader has not specified whether the existing gas transportation line of Central Asia-Center controlled by Gazprom OJSC since Soviet time is taken into account or scheme of compensation is possible. Turkmenistan, as it is known, supplies small volumes of fuel to Iran, bordering with the Turkish Republic.
Official Ashgabat always stressed that it guarantees delivery of its raw materials only near its borders. Further schemes of transit are solved between owners of communications independently.
Turkmen authorities announced an international tender for construction of internal 1,000-kilometer-pipeline East-West to link the Caspian Sea. A pipeline can be constructed along its seabed to supply the richest deposits of eastern Turkmenistan to Europe. The realization of this huge project has strategic importance in terms of Turkmenistan's joining Nabucco, observers said.
Before attempts were made to deliver Turkmen gas to European borders throughout the history of relations between Ankara and Ashgabat.
In May 1999, Turkmenneftegaz State Concern and Turkish Botas Corporation signed the agreement to sell Turkmen gas to the amount of 16 billion cubic meters per year to Turkey and transit to the amount of 14 billion cubic meters to Europe. The contract was a long-term one. It covered 30 years.
U.S. PSG including Bechtel Enterprises and General Electric Capital & Construction Finance Group operated as an operator of Trans-Caspian project that time.
U.S. Ex-Im Bank and Overseas Private Investment Corporation - OPIC suggested financing of the project.
But after natural gas reserves were discovered in Azerbaijan field of Shahdeniz, the project was ruined as official Ashgabad refused to give half of a pipe for Azerbaijani gas.
A package of preliminary financing suggested by the consortium was not convenient for Turkmenistan either.
There is also positive experience. At present, Turkey is the main importer of Turkmen electric power. Iran ensures transit of electric power through its territory. Sources close to the talks said that Tehran actively suggests realizing the project to build a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan through Iran. But Iran's isolation from the international community postpones this prospect for an indefinite period, experts said.
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