OREANDA-NEWS. May 29, 2009. New applications for the participation in the international tender for construction of the East-West gas pipeline continue to come to Turkmengaz State Concern. Since announcing the tender about seventy foreign firms and companies have applied for collaboration in this unique project in Turkmenistan. These include the large companies from Russia, China, Europe and other regions of the world.

The tender for design and construction of the East-West gas pipeline was announced in late March on the instructions of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. This project became a practical step of the Turkmen state to lay the foundation for national as well as global energy security in compliance with Turkmenistan’s large-scale plans on diversification of transit of energy to international markets.

As is known, the Turkmen leader’s initiative on stable and reliable transit of energy supported at the highest level was embodied in the relevant Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly last December. The ways and mechanisms for cooperation to address global challenge of energy security were the focus of the high-level conference which brought together the representatives of dozens of the countries and large companies in Ashgabat last month.

Demonstrating a constructive and integrated approach to global problem Turkmenistan takes the concrete steps to fill it with a practical content. One of these steps is the East-West gas pipeline project.

Each year the new gas pipeline stretching for 800-1,000 km will supply 30 billion cubic metres. Along with construction of the gas pipeline the relevant ground infrastructure including several gas-compressor stations will be built.

The future gas pipeline will be the major connecting link of the extended gas transportation network under construction in the country, which will enable to transport ‘blue fuel’ in different directions. It will create additional guarantees of uninterrupted supply of raw materials to the international pipelines that Turkmenistan as one of the world’s natural gas producer intends to build. Along with export the East-West gas pipeline will ensure stable supply of ‘blue fuel’ to the towns and settlements of Turkmenistan.

Potential partners’ applications for collaboration in the East-West Gas Pipeline Project testify to its uncontestable commercial attractiveness as well as high demand for Turkmenistan’s energy resources on world markets.

Turkmenistan’s profound energy potential was provide by numbers international experts. The recent examples include the audit of gas reserves in Eastern Turkmenistan conducted by the British firm – Gaffney, Cline & Associates that allowed ranking Southern Yoloten field among four largest reserves of natural gas in the world.

Turkmengaz State Concern is preparing for commercial production of this huge gas pool that will be the major ‘donor’ of the East-West gas pipeline.