Turkmen, Uzbek Leaders Discuss Energy Export

The Turkmen and Uzbek presidents believe that there is every opportunity for the construction of a new Caspian pipeline and the reconstruction of existing oil and gas pipelines from Central Asia to Russia, the UzA national news agency reported on 19 October.

During a meeting held in Asgabat on 18 October, the presidents expressed confidence that “there are all possibilities for the successful implementation of agreements reached in May this year among Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan on the construction of a new Caspian pipeline and the reconstruction of existing oil and gas pipelines from Central Asia to Russia”.

“The Caspian pipeline will make it possible almost to double the volume of gas being sent from Central Asia to Russia,” the report adds.

The report says that “Uzbekistan also supports a project on the construction of a Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, which will go through its territory. In addition to increasing our country’s transit capacity this will serve to extend Uzbek gas export routes “.

(The report is about 1,000 words; no further processing planned)

Originally published by Uzbek National News Agency website, Tashkent, in Russian 18 Oct 07.

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