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European Commission considers gas imports from Turkmenistan

The European Commission is considering reviving the TransCaspian pipeline, a gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan to Europe, that has remained in limbo in the last few years due to political, financial and ecological uncertainties. Negotiations are under way to supply Europe with 10 to 30 bcm/year of gas. The proposed pipeline could connect to the Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline (TANAP) project, which will deliver gas from the Shah Deniz II field in the Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan) to Turkey. Turkmenistan would be in charge of the construction of the submarine pipeline, which could prove difficult in this disputed area between Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. It would enable Turkmenistan to further diversify its gas exports: the central-Asian country's exports to Russia have fallen over the last couple of years, while exports to China have soared (about 30-35 bcm/year) and are expected to double by 2020.