Turkmenistan is ready to supply gas, but does not want to build a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline

Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the European Union will establish a working group to address the issue of gas supplies from the Caspian region to Europe, journalists were told  by the Minister of Energy Natig Aliyev.

According to him, the agreement was reached at a recent meeting in Turkmenistan with the participation of Vice-President of the European  Commission for Energy, Shefkovich with the energy ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

According to him, Azerbaijan  will be represented in the working group  by the Ministry of Energy, SOCAR, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice.

During the meeting the Turkmen side emphasized interest in laying Trans-Caspian pipeline and again announced its readiness to supply  to Europe 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year. However, Turkmenistan is ready to deliver gas only to the Caspian Sea.

Therefore, it is to be determined who will  build and finance the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. The question on the  buyer of Turkmen gas should be resolved, said Aliyev.

The minister also said that the European Union proposes the creation of the Caspian Consortium of European energy companies, which will act as the buyer of gas. -02D-