Amidst the Russo-Ukrainian War, Turkmenistan has an opportunity to diversify its energy market, boosting Western energy security and reshaping global trade, The National Interest (USA) reports. The article says that now the Central Asian country is now better placed than at any time in its history to diversify its energy consumer base outside of Russia.
"Accessing Turkmenistan’s gas reserves will be challenging, but doing so could bring significant benefits to both Ashgabat and the West." Key to this would be the establishment of a Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP), which would also bypass Russia and provide energy supplies to Europe. Turkmenistan has shown an interest in constructing the TCP by participating in various Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council ministerial meetings.
Photo: Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary
Several regional countries, including Azerbaijan and Turkey, have sought to capitalize on the further development of an energy transport system from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. The Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Turkey, Ilham Aliyev, Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Recep Erdogan met in 2022 to discuss the transportation of Turkmen gas to Europe.
At the meeting, Erdogan highlighted that the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), a critical project carrying natural gas from Azerbaijan to Turkish markets and eventually to Europe, is operating at its total capacity of 32bn cubic meters. The transportation of Turkmen gas to Turkey and Europe via the TANAP is the most convenient option currently available.
Even before the Russo-Ukrainian War, Europe has been searching for ways to diversify its energy sources. The EU acted on its ambitions by signing a deal with Azerbaijan in 2022 to double imports of natural gas by 2027. Azerbaijan could expand its ability to supply Europe with energy as Baku is cultivating closer relations with Turkmenistan.
Connectivity with the TANAP would only further the EU’s energy security.
The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, signed by Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan in 2018, significantly reduced barriers to pipeline construction.
The author notes that pipelines will be critical because they are the only economically viable way to move natural gas in vast quantities, especially across the Caspian Sea.
" Turkmenistan has sought to improve and open up its economy by increasing transparency, strengthening its legal system, and encouraging private-sector capital formation," the article says.
Credits: Eziz Boyarov
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