EU Seeks Kazak Participation in Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline

The European Union has invited Kazakhstan to take part in the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline project, designed to connect the Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan shores of the Caspian Sea with infrastructure that will bring gas from Central Asia to Europe as an extension of the Southern Gas Corridor.

EU’s invitation for Kazakhstan to become part of the Trans-Caspian pipe comes after the adoption of a mandate to negotiate a legally binding treaty between the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to build a Trans-Caspian Pipeline System.

Speaking at the forum being held in Astana, European Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said, "This pipeline will become a very important contribution to the development of the Southern Gas Corridor. Not many people know that this is the first time the has EU suggested signing an international contract aimed at supporting an infrastructure project. “

“It shows how important the project and cooperation in the region are important for the EU and all its 27 member states. We will welcome corresponding participation of Kazakhstan in the Southern Corridor in the future," Oettinger said as cited by RIA Novosti.

The expected annual capacity of the Tengiz (Kazakhstan) - Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) - Baku (Azerbaijan) - Tbilisi (Georgia) - Erzurum (Turkey) route amounts to 20-30 billion cubic meters of gas. The cost of the project is estimated at 7.9 billion euros.

Opposition to the project has come from Russia and from Iran on environmental and legal grounds. Both claim that a potential pipeline project, regardless of the route, should need the consent of all five Caspian littoral states.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that any attempts from outside to interfere in Caspian's business affairs, or issues which are sensitive for the Caspian Five members, may complicate the situation in the region and have a negative impact on current negotiations on the new legal status of the Caspian Sea.