Gas pipeline from Turkmenistan unlike the pre-Caspian project (see my previous post) is becoming reality. Here is a bunch of facts to prove it.
The first frame agreement on gas exports to China was signed by former president Sapparmurat Niyazov in April 2006. Just year later, his successor – Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov went to Beijing in […]

May has come and reminded me about the pre-Caspian gas pipeline project. A year ago, on May 12, in Turkmenbashi town a declaration on the pre-Caspian project was signed. The document endorsed by presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan assumed a construction of the pre-Caspian gas pipeline (to run along the Caspian Sea coastline […]

On 20-25 April, Turkmen energy minister Baimyrat Khodzamuhammedov visited Islamabad where he took part in the 10th meeting of steering committee of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. Apart from him, the meeting gathered Indian, Pakistani and Afghan officials. Few days later, on April 28th Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov traveled to Kabul (first time in independent […]

It looks like the gas conflict between Turkmenistan and Iran which lasted for over 3 months is drawing to an end. The Reuters Agency informed on April 19 that Tehran is ready to pay a higher price for the Turkmen gas.
If Turkmenistan wants a logical increase in the price of gas it is okay […]

The Izvestiya daily reported on December 9 quoting the Itar Tass press agency that the EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner had said in a telephone conversation with the Austrian media that president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov supported the construction of the Nabucco gas pipeline. He had reportedly stated in an […]

Some events suggest that India - so far underestimated - may join the competition for the Turkmen gas. On April 6 Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari visited Ashgabat. As a result of the visit, a joint memorandum concerning energy cooperation was signed. During the talks both parties stressed that there were excellent prospects for […]

The NATO summit in Bucharest was completed a few days ago. For the first time, president of Turkmenistan participated in the event. During the summit, the Turkmen leader talked eye to eye to president George W. Bush. This is an undoubted success of Berdymukhammedov, first of all, in the propaganda sphere. Events such as […]

On March 24-25 president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov paid a long-awaited visit to Turkey. Western politicians and analysts had great hopes for the visit, expecting important declarations on the Trans-Caspian pipeline. The expectations were further fuelled by the statement Berdymukhammedov made right before his departure to Ankara: president reminded that Ashgabat’s objective is to diversify its […]

On March 11 British The Independent daily published an article on how the Afghan police failed to arrest general Abdul Rashid Dostum, one of the famed Afghan warlords, who is currently Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Afghan National Army.
A police attempt to arrest the warlord at his home in Kabul’s […]

On 11 March Gazprom website published the following information:
The Gazprom Headquarters today hosted a working meeting of Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom, Uzakbai Karabalin, President of KazMunaiGaz, Nurmmukhamad Akhmedov, Chairman of the Management Committee of Uzbekneftegaz and Yagshigeldy Kakaev, Chairman of Turkmengaz. The meeting addressed the outlook for cooperation in […]