The Trans-Caspian Gas Tussle

Some two weeks ago the European Commission announced that the European Council had given the green light for it to act as negotiator for talks between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the construction of a Trans-Caspian-Pipeline (TCP).     

The pipeline, once built, would transport significant amounts of gas from Turkmenistan across the Caspian to Azerbaijan and then on to European markets.

If successful it would strike a significant blow to Moscow, as its near monopoly over the EU gas market would crumble in front of its eyes, while its highly ambitious South Stream project, which is little more than a political project, would be dead. 

Amanda Paul examines the fight for Caspian gas in Today's Zaman