Turkmenistan and Russia enhance energy partnership

On December 22 Russian President Medvedev and Turkmen President Berdymuhammedov signed an agreement to increase strategic cooperation in the field of heavy industry. Medvedev announced that certain amendments had been introduced into the agreement signed in 2003 between Gazprom and Turkmengas.

The document also stated that from 2010 Turkmenistan will provide Russia with 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually. For the first time in a document signed by the Presidents of these two countries it has been stated that the natural gas will be sold at European market prices.

The sides also reach agreement on cooperation in different gas transportation projects and exploration of the Caspian shelf.