The foreign ministers of France, Germany, the UK and Turkmenistan discussed in Ashgabat ways to diversify oil and gas exports from Turkmenistan to the EU, the Turkmen government said in a statement.
The EU is particularly keen on bringing more Turkmen gas to Europe to reduce its dependency on Russian imports. It is backing a trans-Caspian gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, which could then link into the planned Nabucco gas line.
"The partners reaffirmed mutual adherence to the search for new approaches to cooperation to ensure energy security," the Turkmen government said.
The Nabucco gas pipeline company expects gas from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to make up the portfolio of gas in the line during its first supply phase set for 2013.
Nabucco CEO Reinhard Mitschek said last month these were the most viable suppliers for the first phase, adding that gas from Turkmenistan could be made available for Nabucco via a number of routes.
He said it could be transported to Nabucco either via a new pipeline across the Caspian Sea, or through Iran under a memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Iran signed last year.
The consortium also is looking at the possibility of transporting Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan by CNG tanker from where it could be piped through the existing South Caucasus gas line to Turkey.
Source: Platts
