Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, 13 March /Trend, H. Hasanov /
A phased reconstruction of the Central Asia - Center-3 gas pipeline is being undertaken in the west of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said on Wednesday.
In particular, since the beginning of the year, Turkmennebitgazgurlushik state entity has reconstructed over 160 kilometers of the gas pipeline on the Korpeje-Belek route. Works are currently ongoing in Belek-Garabogaz.
The export gas pipeline's offshoot goes to Russia from the Belek station. Belek is the final destination for the East-West internal pipeline as well, originating at the Shatlyk compressor station in the east, where strategic reserves of natural gas are located.
Nearly one thousand kilometers long, the East-West gas pipeline will allow the combining of all local gas networks into a single ring and the creation of a secure and stable system of Turkmen energy output to international markets.
Eight compressor stations will be constructed within the project. Geological and topographical works have been completed along the route and construction works have been accelerated.
Commissioning of the pipeline is scheduled for 2015. Its ability to reverse gas flow will allow the supplying of gas in both eastern and western directions.