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Obama administration to support Turkmenistan in diversifying energy resources market

Oil&Gas Materials 23 September 2009 12:31 (UTC +04:00)
The U.S. administration is ready to support and assist Turkmenistan in diversifying energy resources regarding the American companies' experience in applying "know-how", said Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State.
Obama administration to support Turkmenistan in diversifying energy resources market

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Sept. 23 / Trend , H.Hasanov/

The U.S. administration is ready to support and assist Turkmenistan in diversifying energy resources regarding the American companies' experience in applying "know-how", said Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State.

U.S. wants to see Turkmenistan among the leaders in the issue of energy security and energy supplies, said the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the meeting with Turkmen President Gurbangulu Berdimuhamedov on Sept. 22, the Turkmenistan-4 TV channel reported. The US Department of State reported that Clinton noted the important role of supplies from Central Asia, especially from Turkmenistan, in providing natural gas to the European Nabucco pipeline project.

Turkmenistan is one of the key energy players in the Caspian region and in previous years, it was associated with the United States in a series of major energy projects, for various reasons they have remained on paper. The most famous of them is the story of a consortium led by American PSG. The Trans-Caspian gas pipeline failed, because the Turkmen leadership could not agree on financing. In addition, Ashgabat refused to allocate half-pipeline under the Azerbaijani gas, discovered in the Shah Deniz field, arguing that the project was originally initiated exclusively for the Turkmen fuel. Another project in Pakistan broke down due to deteriorating of the situation in the transit areas - in Afghanistan, the American Unocal also was forced to step aside after the U.S. began military action against the Taliban.

At present, the U.S. companies like Chevron, ConocoPhilips, Marathon, and Midland Oil & Gas are interested in the Turkmen market, which is developing its part of the Caspian Sea shelf. Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan's willingness to cooperate actively with the U.S. companies on the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea for oil extraction and refining and other fields. During her recent visit to Ashgabat, U.S Energy Ministry Department for Russia and Eurasia Deputy Director Meryll Burpoe said American companies are interested in participating in pipeline projects from Turkmenistan to Europe, Pakistan and India.

"Their participation will depend on the Turkmenistan Government, as well as Turkmen energy concerns. Furthermore, US companies would like to work in any direction of oil and gas field in Turkmenistan, no matter investment projects, construction of facilities or service to Turkmen concerns," Burpoe said.

So far, Russia used to purchase a lion share of Turkmen gas. However, gas supplies were creased due to an accident in the Central Asia - Center gas pipeline. Export did not resume after rehabilitation of communication, because Gasprom offered to reconsider the long-term contract on purchase to decrease volumes or prices. Talks are underway.

In New York, Clinton, referring to Berdimuhamedov emphasized Turkmenistan's initiative to adopt the UN Resolution "A reliable and stable transit of energy resources and its role in sustainable development and international cooperation." The U.S. foreign minister emphasized the U.S. willingness to cooperate with Turkmenistan "at a higher level". In this regard, it was proposed to hold regular inter-state consultations in Ashgabat and Washington.

Berdimuhamedov, in turn, said that by arriving in America to participate in the 64th UN General Assembly, whose deputy chairman is Turkmenistan, intends to use his time here as an opportunity for further expansion of business cooperation with the United States - one of its largest and most prestigious partners

Noting the international significance of the issue of pipeline safety, Berdimuhamedov said that the next step is to offer to establish a working group under the auspices of the UN, whose main goal will be to develop a comprehensive international legal instrument aimed at creating an effective system of security of energy supplies to the world markets.

"Turkmenistan, with its enormous hydrocarbon resources, supports diversification of its supplies on the world markets, which means creating a diverse pipeline of infrastructure," said the Turkmen leader.

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