Turkmen Gas Flows to Russia After 3 Years

Turkmenistan has resumed natural gas exports to Russia after a three-year suspension, Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Monday, confirming a report by Turkmen news website Orient.tm.
“Supplies are taking place,” Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said, Reuters reported.
Neither Gazprom nor the Turkmen media report provided any details on price or volumes. The Turkmen government could not be immediately reached for comment.
Russia was the number one buyer of Turkmen gas until 2010, when the Central Asian nation began exports to China.
Russia then cut back imports and halted them completely in early 2016, contributing to a drop in Turkmenistan’s hard currency revenue.
Both sides have since been discussing new gas supply terms, with the last round of talks held last month.
Before diverting some flows to China, Turkmenistan used to pump up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas a year to Russia. Today, it exports up to 40 bcm a year to the east, while producing about 70 bcm.
Turkmenistan is among the countries possessing significant reserves of hydrocarbons, mainly natural gas. The concept of the gas industry development in the country is focused on energy security and economic efficiency.