Ukraine, Turkmenistan Sign Tentative Gas Supply Deal

Ukraine has reached a tentative agreement to resume natural gas imports from Turkmenistan.

However, completion of the deal between Ukraine and Turkmenistan would require the consent of Kazakhstan and Russia as transit nations, The Associated Press said in a report.

Kazakhstan will be unlikely to pose an obstacle, but Russia, which has sought to dominate gas supplies to Europe and engaged in bitter energy disputes with Ukraine in the past, may not be forthcoming, the report said.

Yuriy Boiko, Ukraine's deputy prime minister, told The Associated Press that Ukraine in the future could also help Turkmenistan develop its energy riches. According to official estimates, Turkmenistan holds more than 30 trillion cubic meters (1,059 trillion cubic feet) in total gas reserves. Ukraine may also resell gas to other European markets.

The pipelines running from Turkmenistan via Kazakhstan and Russia to Ukraine have had spare capacity since Moscow sharply reduced its purchases of the Turkmen gas in 2009 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.