Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan. 27 / Trend A. Maratov /
The third branch of the Asian gas pipeline will be built in parallel to the existing two branches, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NC KazMunayGas Kairgeldy Kabyldin told Trend.
"The third branch of the Asian pipeline will run in parallel. It is a common practice. The Central Asia Center gas pipeline, in general, consists of five branches. The third branch was originally envisaged in the project. It will go along with the already laid corridor," he said.
The gas pipeline, stretching through the territory of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China, was named Asian. The first two branches have been already completed and commissioned.
"Their capacity has been ensured up to 8 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The compressor stations are under construction now. They will bring the power of the two existing branches up to 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas to China," he said.
He said that the Chinese side voiced a proposal to increase transit volumes by 20 billion cubic meters (10 billion from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).
"Therefore, we are currently developing a feasibility study. It includes technical and economic aspects of the construction of the third branch of the Asian gas pipeline. As soon as the feasibility study is completed, the parties will hold commercial negotiations and determine the conditions for granting rights to the construction of the third branch through Kazakhstan to supply Kazakh gas to the amount of $10 billion," he said.
He said that the joint venture will implement the project.