Kremlin: Without the consent of Moscow, there will be no Trans-Caspian gas pipeline
Only a few days have passed since the five Caspian littoral states signed the Convention on the division of this unique reservoir with all its resources. This event is rightfully considered a real breakthrough in the settlement of the territorial dispute that arose after the collapse of the USSR.
The division of the Caspian has a number of aspects: political, economic and military. On the eve of we toldwhat Russia was able to achieve by signing the Convention militarily. Moscow received guarantees that there would be neither NATO nor Chinese warships on the Caspian Sea, only fleets of the five Caspian states could plow its waters. Thanks to this, the Caspian flotilla of the Russian Navy received an excellent bridgehead for the possibility of delivering Caliber cruise missile attacks on American military bases in the Persian Gulf region, the Red and Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Middle East, if such a need arises. This objectively can be considered a great achievement in the field of ensuring national security of Russia.
Now it’s time to carefully consider the economic side of the division of the Caspian. For a long time, Moscow itself was opposed to the proposed options for resolving the territorial issue, since they suggested the possibility of building the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, bypassing Russia. Why did the Kremlin neglect the interests of Gazprom for once?
As you know, the so-called Southern Gas Corridor is being actively implemented, which provides for the construction of a gas pipeline from Azerbaijan through Turkey to the countries of Southern Europe. All this happens without the participation of the Russian Federation and does not cause her the slightest enthusiasm, since it means the emergence of additional competition in the European gas market. The trans-Caspian gas pipeline, originating in the city of Turkmenbashi, should join the Southern Gas Corridor in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. The length of the pipe can be 300 kilometers, the maximum capacity is 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas per year. Another pipeline is estimated at $ 5 billion. There is evidence that Astana is also interested in connecting to the gas pipeline and becoming a competitor to Moscow in the “blue fuel” market in Europe.
Is it any wonder that the Kremlin’s unexpected pliability was a pleasant surprise for the former Soviet republics:
However, Russian ambassador Igor Bratchikov tempered the ardor of gas sellers:
Really. There is a Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian. If, for example, the Kingdom of Denmark opposes the construction of Nord Stream 2 for environmental reasons, then why should Russia not defend a unique reservoir?
The division of the Caspian has a number of aspects: political, economic and military. On the eve of we toldwhat Russia was able to achieve by signing the Convention militarily. Moscow received guarantees that there would be neither NATO nor Chinese warships on the Caspian Sea, only fleets of the five Caspian states could plow its waters. Thanks to this, the Caspian flotilla of the Russian Navy received an excellent bridgehead for the possibility of delivering Caliber cruise missile attacks on American military bases in the Persian Gulf region, the Red and Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Middle East, if such a need arises. This objectively can be considered a great achievement in the field of ensuring national security of Russia.
Now it’s time to carefully consider the economic side of the division of the Caspian. For a long time, Moscow itself was opposed to the proposed options for resolving the territorial issue, since they suggested the possibility of building the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, bypassing Russia. Why did the Kremlin neglect the interests of Gazprom for once?
As you know, the so-called Southern Gas Corridor is being actively implemented, which provides for the construction of a gas pipeline from Azerbaijan through Turkey to the countries of Southern Europe. All this happens without the participation of the Russian Federation and does not cause her the slightest enthusiasm, since it means the emergence of additional competition in the European gas market. The trans-Caspian gas pipeline, originating in the city of Turkmenbashi, should join the Southern Gas Corridor in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. The length of the pipe can be 300 kilometers, the maximum capacity is 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas per year. Another pipeline is estimated at $ 5 billion. There is evidence that Astana is also interested in connecting to the gas pipeline and becoming a competitor to Moscow in the “blue fuel” market in Europe.
Is it any wonder that the Kremlin’s unexpected pliability was a pleasant surprise for the former Soviet republics:
The Convention clarifies that pipelines are a matter of bilateral negotiations between the countries through which they pass
However, Russian ambassador Igor Bratchikov tempered the ardor of gas sellers:
When and if there are real plans for the construction of trans-Caspian pipelines, any of the Caspian countries (...) will be able to join the procedure for assessing the possible consequences of such structures for the ecology of the Caspian, even at the design stage
Really. There is a Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian. If, for example, the Kingdom of Denmark opposes the construction of Nord Stream 2 for environmental reasons, then why should Russia not defend a unique reservoir?
- Sergey Marzhetsky
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