Russian energy monopoly Gazprom agreed to a deal with Turkmenistan for greater control over a Central Asian gas pipeline, a statement said
Gazprom and Turkmenistan reached a deal for Gazprom to gain greater rights to use the Central Asia-Center pipeline network to bring more natural gas to Russia, Gazprom said in a statement.
The CAC consists of five pipelines traversing Turkmenistan via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Construction of a western branch through Turkmenistan will contribute to the transportation of natural gas from the Caspian Sea east.
Gazprom said 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas per year will come from Turkmenistan, with another 353 billion cubic feet per year from Kazakhstan.
The energy giant in July finalized an agreement to invest in the energy sector in Turkmenistan, pledging to back pre-development projects on a branch of CAC.
Meanwhile, Turkey's Hurriyet said Gazprom has told Ankara the country could get natural gas supplies at a discount on par with other regional importers, UPI.com reported.
Hurriyet said an unnamed Gazprom spokesman said Turkey was rewarded for paying its gas costs promptly, an affront to Ukraine, which has been in a row with Russia over outstanding debt.
Author:
Ksenia Kochneva
