Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 18, 2007

Russia Signs Pipeline Deal for Central Asian Gas
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1785F4F:A6F02AD83191E1605ED3A8038DB9F7719574F7DCC14957C0 President Vladimir
Putin signs agreement with Turkmen and Kazakh leaders for construction
of new gas pipeline through Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin
May 13 signed an agreement with the Turkmen and Kazakh leaders for the
construction of new gas pipeline through Russia. VOA's Barry Wood
reports the accord raises further doubts about the viability of a
western-backed alternative across the Caspian Sea to Turkey.







Vladimir Putin (l) and Kazakhstan's Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana, 10
May 2007Energy analyst Vladimir Socor says in recent months the
Russians have made great advances in the race for access to Central
Asian gas. Both Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have vast quantities of
gas that they would like to sell in Western Europe. Concerned about
over reliance on Russia, European governments and the United States
have been pushing for an alternative pipeline under the Caspian to
send Central Asian gas to the Caucasus and Turkey. Munich-based Socor
says that alternative - a line called Nabucco - is becoming a less
likely option.

"It [Nabucco] has been in trouble all along because Turkmenistan and
Kazakhstan were not committing themselves to Nabucco," said Socor.
"Now Nabucco is in even greater trouble because Turkmenistan and
Kazakhstan have made a different commitment [with the Russians]."

Socor says Russia's Gazprom is playing a skillful game in extending
its control over gas exports from the former Soviet Central Asian
Republics.

"Gas from third countries is being enlisted by Russia as part of
Russia's gas transit system," he said. "In other words gas from third
countries other than Russia will reach Europe by the grace of Russia."

Russia is by far Europe's largest supplier of natural gas used mostly
for heating. Socor believes Europe is dangerously overly dependent on
Russian gas. Energy analyst Alexander Wostmann in Essen, Germany
disagrees.

"There is always a dependency relationship [concerning energy in
Europe]," said Alexander Wostmann. "And it seems a very natural one
between Russia and Europe to have this relationship, simply because
there are vast reserves quite nearby."

Russia provides 40 percent of Europe's gas. In several countries that
figure exceeds 60 percent.