Ukraine, Kiev / Trend corr. Z. Novosvitski / Irregardless, Ukraine will benefit from taking part in the project for the construction of the Caspian pipeline, Constantine Lesnichi, a director at the Sokrat investment-financial group, said on 17 May.
According to the expert, Ukrainian machine-building and pipes-producing enterprises are likely to join the project. He noted that the Ukrainian NGO, Frunze can be involved, as it is engaged in the production of compressor systems for gas pumping. The Khartsiz pipe plant can is capable of supplying pipes with large diameters.
Lesnichi noted that Ukraine was likely to take part in the project, but acting as a constitutor was very doubtful. "I believe the countries that agreed upon building the Caspian pipeline are quite self-sufficient and are not interested in Ukraine to be the founder of the project. It will be positive for Ukraine and machine-building and pipe-manufacturing plants in particular to take part in the project as a contractor," Lesnichi said.
On 12 May, the Presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan signed a declaration on the construction of the Caspian pipeline. In accordance with the declaration, the national governments have to develop the wording of the inter-governmental agreement on construction of the pipeline by 1 September, 2007. Notably, all parties will rule out the possibility of involving other countries in the implementation of the project.
On 16 May, the Ukrainian Minister for Fuel and Energy, Yuri Boyko, stated that Ukraine had plans to take part in the project. According to the Minister, whatever agreements are signed by these countries the gas and oil will be transported to Europe via Ukraine.