Pricaspiysky Gas Pipeline Gets a Green Light

Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have signed an agreement on the construction of a Pricaspiysky gas pipeline, reported Prime-TASS. The pipeline, with a capacity of 20 bln m3 per annum, is designed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan to Russia via Kazakhstan. The completion is scheduled for late 2010. Vladimir Nesterenko: It looks like Russia has won the first serious battle with U.S./EU over Turkmen gas, despite recent relationships between the Turkmen president and the Western world having warmed. The future of the underwater Trans-Caspian pipeline (Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Turkey) is now even foggier than before, as is the future of NABUCCO pipeline, connecting Turkey with Europe.