Ashgabat wants to clarify a number of issues on the gas alliance

Baku/14.08.23//Turan: Deputy Chairman of the state concern "Turkmengaz" Murad Archayev stated the need to clarify a number of issues related to the prospects for expanding the "trilateral gas alliance" of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

On August 11, a number of media outlets circulated a statement by Dmitry Birichevsky, director of the Department of Economic Cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry, regarding the "trilateral gas alliance" with the participation of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Archayev noted in a comment to the state news agency of Turkmenistan.

According to Birichevsky, Russia does not exclude "the possibility of expanding trilateral cooperation in the gas sector" and knows "that other states are also showing interest in it."

This statement raises at least several questions, in particular, what expansion opportunities are we talking about, which other states are interested in them, which, in principle, is behind trilateral cooperation in the gas sector, Archayev said.

"Full clarity is required here, since the interests of other states, including Turkmenistan, are affected," the deputy head of “Turkmengaz” stressed.

He recalled that "Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and China have been cooperating for a long time on the transportation of natural gas from Central Asia to China, with clearly agreed volumes, deadlines, economic and technical parameters."

Archayev explained that now "three branches of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline are functioning, through which gas is supplied from Turkmen fields in the east and south-east of the country." "All three lines and the production facilities that ensure their operation were jointly built exclusively by the Turkmen and Chinese sides - respectively, the State Concern “Turkmengaz” and the Chinese oil and gas Company CNPC," Archayev said.

According to him, Turkmenistan is the largest supplier of gas through this pipeline: out of the total agreed volume of supplies amounting to 55 bcm per year, 40 bcm are contracted by Turkmenistan, and the remaining volumes are provided by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

He noted that "there are no gas sources from other countries to fill the pipeline, and the existing scheme of distribution of gas volumes supplied to China does not include plans to expand the membership of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline project."

Archayev also noted that "Turkmenistan strictly adheres to its obligations to Chinese, Uzbek and Kazakh partners. And legitimately counts on reciprocity."

According to him, any changes to the agreed and executed volumes and schemes of gas supplies using the existing infrastructure require prior approval from all participants without exception. At the same time, Archayev noted that no consultations were held with Turkmenistan on this issue.

"Such an approach is incomprehensible and unacceptable for the Turkmen side and is considered by our country as not conforming to the norms of international law and the practice of working in the gas sector," Archayev said.

He noted that "in this context, Turkmenistan is seriously concerned about the statements of official representatives, one way or another affecting the international obligations of our country, and could sow ambiguity and speculation about their implementation by other participants."

"Turkmenistan proceeds from the fact that international cooperation, including in such an important segment as energy supplies, should be based on open and clear criteria, mutual respect and consideration of interests, strict compliance with the agreements reached. Fluctuations in the foreign economic situation cannot serve as a reason for changing these principles," Archayev said. –0-