Turkmen President Discusses Energy Issues With Italian PM
The declaration of European Commission Vice President Maroš Sefčovič on Turkmen gas possibly reaching Europe by 2019 turned the spotlight on the country in Central Asia, triggering a frenzy of diplomatic activities and increased political interest.
On Monday, while an Iranian MP said that a pipeline through Iran would be the best way to transport Turkmen gas to Europe, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The two heads of state discussed trade and economic ties.
‘Among the promising areas of cooperation were identified trade and economic sphere, fuel and energy, industry, transport and communications, agriculture and the tourist industry’ reads a note released by the office of Berdimuhamedov.
In March 2015, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the country is ready to ensure gas transit.
Similarly, on Monday, an Iranian MP was reported as supporting the project.
“I think transferring gas via a pipeline is the most logical and justified option,” Hossein Nejabat, member of the Iranian parliament’s energy commission, said in a note published on the website of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC).
He also said that this would be the cheapest solution.
“In my opinion, thanks to its security, Iran can be a reliable source for transiting Turkmen gas due to Europe, as Turkmenistan has not access to open seas. The most inexpensive way is to swap gas with Iran,” the MP said.
Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the European Union released a joint declaration on May 1, in which Iran was not mentioned. On the other hand, they referred to the Trans-Caspian Pipeline.
‘The Parties welcome the completion of the preliminary environmental study on the Trans-Caspian Pipeline, with financial support of the European Union, and World Bank, which will be published before the end of 2015’ reads the document.
Meanwhile, SOCAR keeps sending messages to international investors. In a note, the Azeri company said it conducted 12393 metres of drilling works in April 2015.