Gazprom welcomes prospect of resuming gas purchases from Turkmenistan

MOSCOW(Interfax) - Gazprom welcomes the prospect for a resumption of natural gas imports from Turkmenistan, Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said on Monday at the Fourth International Energy Week event.

“We are conducting productive talks with our partners from Turkmenistan and welcome the prospect of resumed gas exports to Russia in the near future,” he said.

An explosion on the Central Asia-Center pipeline in Turkmenistan halted gas supplies to Russia in April. Turkmenistan blamed the blast on Russia, claiming it had not notified Turkmen pipeline personnel that it would dramatically reduce the amount of gas it took from the pipeline, creating an overpressure on the Turkmen side. The pipeline was later repaired, but gas exports have not resumed.

The price Russia paid for Turkmen gas had risen to European levels effective from the beginning of the year. However, Gazprom officials said there was little demand for the higher priced Turkmen gas, prompting Gazprom to propose that Ashgabat either lower the price of delivery volumes.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Turkmenistan in September produced a political agreement to resume the gas deliveries and Gazprom is currently translating that agreement into a commercial contract.

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