Turkmenistan: US Corporations and Government Encourage Ashgabat's Energy Diversification

American companies and diplomats are lauding Turkmenistan's call for diversified energy exports and are trying muscling in on projects that Russian energy giant Gazprom had displayed an interest in.

"The United States shares an interest in the further development of Turkmenistan's energy sector and the diversification of export pipelines," said the US charge d'affaires to the Central Asian state, Richard Miles, as he opened a two-day conference on "Pipeline Integrity and Management" in Ashgabat on June 10.

"We believe that the successful realization of this strategy will strengthen Turkmenistan's independence and bring big profits to the state," he is quoted as saying by the Turkmen state news agency.

In a report distributed by the semi-official Turkmenistan.ru website, Meryl Burpoe, the deputy director of Russian and Eurasian affairs at the US Department of Energy, also sought to redirect Ashgabat's energy-export focus away from Moscow and toward both the European Union and South Asian states.

"US companies would cooperate with the Turkmen government to implement its strategy to diversify energy exports. The US Department of Energy, in turn, strongly supports the idea of diversifying the export of gas from Turkmenistan. I know that American companies are interested in participating in the implementation of pipeline projects from Turkmenistan to Europe, and Pakistan-India," she said.

"The question of their involvement will depend on the government of Turkmenistan and Turkmen energy concerns," Burpoe continued. "In addition, US companies would like to work in all areas of the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan, whether investment projects, the direct construction of facilities or the provision of services for companies in Turkmenistan."

Gazprom boss Alexi Miller is due to visit Ashgabat this week. The trip will aim to shore up Russia's sagging position in Ashgabat, according media reports.

Meanwhile, Rashid Meredov, Turkmenistan's foreign minister, is due to visit Washington on June 22-25. His itinerary has yet to be confirmed, although he is expected to broach the creation of a bilateral investment agreement. "The agenda [for Meredov in Washington] will cover a full range of bilateral and regional issues. This visit reflects an increasingly dynamic relationship between the United States and Turkmenistan," a spokesman for the US Embassy in Ashgabat told EurasiaNet on June 11.