Russia's large independent oil and gas producer Itera has put into operation its $176 million natural gas pipeline in Turkmenistan, RIA Novosti reported according to the Turkmen television.
The 198-kilometer pipeline is linking gas deposits in the Karakum Desert with the Central Asia - Center gas pipeline system running from Turkmenistan via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to Russia.
The new pipeline will help increase annually supplies of Turkmen natural gas to Russia to 3 billion cubic meters and later to 5 billion.
Turkmenistan, which annually produces some 75 billion cubic meters of gas, is home to South Yolotan, the world's fourth largest gas field with estimated reserves of 4 to 14 trillion cubic meters.
Russia, along with China and Iran, is a major consumer of Turkmen gas. The Central Asia - Center gas pipeline system is controlled by Russia's energy giant Gazprom.
In late September, Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said Turkmenistan would continue to maintain a policy of strategic cooperation with Russia in the oil and gas sphere despite the negative impact of the global economic crisis on joint projects.
Russia's Itera launches gas pipeline in Turkmenistan
17 October 2010 07:47 (UTC+04:00)
