Turkmenistan Planning Pipeline Network

Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has said that the development of a dedicated pipeline network for Turkmen gas could help to secure the country's economic security.

Speaking in Shanghai at the weekend, President Berdimuhamedov said his country was now looking at the possibility of building pipelines across the country and would begin discussions soon.

"Turkmenistan is ready to hold constructive discussions and to develop joint plans in this direction," the Trend news agency reports him as saying.

"We are ready to provide our powerful resource potential, the benefits of geoeconomic position and the experience of interaction with partners in the implementation of major energy projects for their implementation."

Turkmenistan, which has previously been described as a "stranded country with stranded gas", is believed to have reserves of up to 265 trillion cubic feet. If accessed, this gas could help to open up the Southern Gas Corridor.

The country has pledged to supplement Azeri gas supply through the Trans-Caspian pipeline, saying it would deliver up to 10 billion cubic of gas a year through that pipeline, an offer which is currently under consideration by the Azeri Energy Minister and the EU.