US opposes Turkmen gas sales to Turkey through Iran

The US is opposed to Turkmenistan's plans to deliver natural gas to Turkey through Iran.
"The American position is totally consistent and has not changed," US Administration energy adviser Jan Kalicki said. "We very much support a moderation of Iranian policies," but he added that energy transportation raised security issues.
"It is very important for all Caspian countries, including Turkmenistan to be able to transport their oil and gas without depending on any single country."
Instead Kalicki said the US favoured a pipeline under the Caspian Sea.
"The Transcaspian pipeline initiative is very important, it will promote the economic and energy security of Turkmenistan," he said.
"The US will continue to support the initiative to make it possible to transport gas across the Caspian and through to the Turkish market," he said.

Feasibility studies on 2 projects to take gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey and Europe are now being prepared.
Shell is preparing a study on a $ 4 bnline across Iran, while US Enron is studying a $ 2.8 to $ 3 bn subsea line.
Both projects would have a capacity of 30 bn cm per year.

Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov said that eventually gas would flow through 2 pipelines to Turkey and beyond, with eventual capacity of 60 to 70 bn cm per year.
Sources at the Turkmen oil and gas ministry said that Niyazov and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel would sign an inter-governmental agreement at celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the Turkish republic in Ankara.
This agreement would confirm Turkey's willingness to buy around 16 bn cm of gas per year for the Turkish market, and Turkey would guarantee transit of Turkmen gas to Europe.