Turkmenistan has launched a new gas pipeline that will help increase its gas exports to Russia from reserves in the Central Karakum desert. The pipeline links to a compressor station that feeds into the Central-Asia-Center pipeline, which carries gas to Russia.
Russia is itself rich in gas, but has traditionally bought cheaper Central Asian energy supplies, while selling its own reserves to European customers at much higher prices.
The construction of the 198.2 km long x 720 mm diameter pipeline was authorised by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on 20th February 2009, in a contract between Turkmengaz and Russian company MRK-Inzeniring worth US$ 176.6 million.
The pipeline's initial handling capacity is 3 billion m3/yr but could be upgraded to 5 billion m3/yr.