Ashgabat expressed concern about Russia's plans to increase gas supplies to China

Ashgabat expressed concern about Russia's plans to increase gas supply to China. The statement of the deputy chairman of the state concern "Turkmengaz" Myrad Archaev is posted on the website of the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Archaev commented on an interview with the Director of the Department of Economic Cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry Dmitry Birichevsky, in which he announced the creation of a "triple gas union" between Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Birichevsky said the Russian state agency RIA Novosti that other states are also interested in gas partnerships with three countries.

The representative of Ashgabat said that the "streamlining of formulations" in the words of the Russian diplomat does not answer specific questions about gas cooperation. "And clarity here requires complete, since the interests of other states, including Turkmenistan, are affected," Archaev said.

He stated that gas from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan is supplied through a pipeline built by "exclusively Turkmen and Chinese sides." "Gas sources from other countries are not provided for filling the pipeline," Archaev claims.

The fears of Ashgabat can cause competition of Turkmen and Russian gas in the China market. The Central Asian state depending on gas exports, providing about 80 percent of the budget revenues. The increase in gas prices in 2022 provided the country with almost two percent, according to the World Bank, GDP growth. The main buyer of Turkmen gas is China.

With the help of an agreement with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Russia can start pumping gas to China on the Turkmen pipeline passing through the territory of these countries, the Kommersant newspaper noted . Its capacity is 55 billion cubic meters, and only about 40 are used.