View source for Central Asia–Center gas pipeline system

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox pipeline
| name        = Central Asia–Center gas pipeline system
| type        = natural gas
| map         = Казахстан и СредАзия газопроводы.png
| map_caption = Location of Central Asia–Center gas pipeline system
| country     = [[Turkmenistan]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Russia]]
| coordinates =
| photo       =
| caption     =
| operator    =
| partners    = [[Gazprom]]<br/>[[Türkmengaz]]<br/>[[Uzbekneftegas]]<br/>[[KazMunayGas]]
| length_km   = 2000
| discharge   = 90&nbsp;billion cubic meters
| direction   = south–north-east
| start       = [[Dauletabad gas field]] and Okarem, [[Turkmenistan]]
| finish      = [[Alexandrov Gay]], [[Russia]]
| est         = 1969
| through     = Shatlyk gas field, [[Khiva]], [[Kungrad]], Cheleken, [[Beyneu]]
| par         = [[Amu Darya]]
}}
The '''Central Asia – Center gas pipeline system''' is a [[Gazprom]] controlled system of natural gas pipelines, which run from [[Turkmenistan]] via [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kazakhstan]] to [[Russia]].  The eastern branch includes the Central Asia - Center (CAC) 1, 2, 4 and 5 pipelines, which start from the south-eastern gas fields of Turkmenistan.  The western branch consists of the CAC-3 pipeline and a project to build a new parallel Caspian pipeline. The western branch runs from the [[Caspian Sea]] coast of Turkmenistan to north.<ref name=csrc>
{{Cite journal
 |author=Michael Fredholm 
 |url=http://www.defac.ac.uk/colleges/csrc/document-listings/russian/05(41)-MF.pdf 
 |title=The Russian Energy Strategy & Energy Policy: Pipeline Diplomacy or Mutual Dependence? 
 |publisher=Conflict Studies Research Centre 
 |format=PDF 
 |date=September 2005 
 |accessdate=2007-12-21 
 |deadurl=yes 
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129125042/http://www.defac.ac.uk/colleges/csrc/document-listings/russian/05(41)-MF.pdf 
 |archivedate=29 November 2007 
 |df=dmy 
}}
</ref>   The branches meet in western Kazakhstan.  From there the pipelines run to north where they are connected to the Russian natural gas pipeline system.<ref name=oies>
{{Cite journal
 | author= Shamil Midkhatovich Yenikeyeff
 | url = http://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/NG25-KazakhstansgasExportMarketsandExportRoutes-ShamilYenikeyeff-2008.pdf
 |title= Kazakhstan's Gas: Export Markets and Export Routes
 | publisher=[[Oxford Institute for Energy Studies]]
 | format=PDF
 | date = November 2008
 | accessdate=2008-11-12}}
</ref>

==History==
The system was built between 1960 and 1988.  Construction began after discovery of Turkmenistan's Dzharkak field in the [[Amu Darya]] Basin, and the first section of the pipeline was completed in 1960.<ref>{{cite web|year=2015|publisher=silkroadreporters.com|title=Uzbekistan’s Unlikely Dream to Supply Europe with Gas|url=http://www.silkroadreporters.com/2015/05/22/uzbekistans-unlikely-dream-to-supply-europe-with-gas/}}</ref><ref name=wp28>
{{Cite journal
 | author= Martha Brill Olcott
 | url = http://www.rice.edu/energy/publications/docs/GAS_InternationalGasTradeinCentralAsia.pdf
 | title=International Gas Trade in Central Asia: Turkmenistan, Iran, Russia and Afghanistan. Working Paper #28
 | publisher=Stanford Institute for International Studies
 | format=PDF
 | date = May 2004
 | accessdate=2007-12-20}}
</ref>  CAC-1 and 2 were commissioned in 1969 and CAC-4 was commissioned in 1973.<ref name=worldbank/>  In 1976, two parallel lines were laid between Shatlyk compressor station and [[Khiva]].  CAC-5 was commissioned in 1985 and in 1986-88 the Dauletabad–Khiva line was connected.<ref name=iea-caspia/>  The western branch (CAC-3) was constructed in 1972-1975.<ref name=worldbank>
{{Cite journal
 | url = http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2000/01/25/000094946_00011205340794/Rendered/PDF/multi_page.pdf
 | title = Privatization of the Power and Natural Gas Industries in Hungary and Kazakhstan
 | publisher=World Bank
 | format=PDF
 | id=WTP451
 | date = December 1999
 | accessdate=2007-12-21}}
</ref>

In 2003, the late President of Turkmenistan [[Saparmurat Niyazov]] proposed to renovate existing systems and construct a new parallel pipeline to the western branch.<ref name=kz>
{{cite news
 | url=http://en.government.kz/site/news/052007/16
 | title= Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan agree to renovate the Caspian gas pipeline
 | agency = Kazinform
 | date= 14 May 2007
 | accessdate=2007-12-21}}
</ref><ref name=caci040809>
{{cite news
 | url= http://cacianalyst.org/?q=node/5080
 | title= Moscow and Ashgabat fail to agree over the Caspian Coastal Pipeline
 | publisher = [[Central Asia-Caucasus Institute]]
 | author = Robert M. Cutler
 | date= 4 August 2009
 | accessdate=2007-12-21}}
</ref>  On 12 May 2007, [[Vladimir Putin]] of Russia, [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] of Kazakhstan and [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow]] of Turkmenistan signed a memorandum for renovation and expansion of the western branch of the pipeline.<ref>
{{cite news
 |url=http://www.neurope.eu/view_news.php?id=73862 
 |title=Putin deal torpedoes Trans-Caspian gas pipeline plans 
 |publisher=[[Centre for the New Europe|New Europe (Belgium)]] 
 |date=17 May 2007 
 |accessdate=2007-05-19 
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225724/http://www.neurope.eu/view_news.php?id=73862 
 |archivedate=27 September 2007 
 |deadurl=yes 
 |df=dmy 
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
 | url=http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/05/13/afx3715292.html
 | title=Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan agree landmark gas pipeline deal
 | publisher=[[Forbes]]
 | date=13 May 2007
 | accessdate=2007-05-19|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220050555/http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/05/13/afx3715292.html|archivedate=2008-02-20}} 
</ref> On 20 December 2007, Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan finalized agreement on construction of the Caspian Coastal Pipeline parallel to the existing CAC-3 pipeline (known as [[Garabogaz, Turkmenistan|Bekdash]]–Europe pipeline or Okarem–Beineu pipeline).

==Technical features==
Almost all Uzbek and Turkmen natural gas is delivered through the CAC pipeline system, mainly through the eastern branch due to location of production sites and poor technical condition of the western branch. CAC-1, 2, 4 and 5 pipelines are supplied from gas fields in the South-East of Turkmenistan, mainly from the [[Dauletabad gas field]].<ref name=wp28/>  The eastern branch starts from the Dauletabad field and continues through the Shatlyk gas field east of [[Tejen]] to Khiva, Uzbekistan. From there the pipeline system transports gas north-west along [[Amu Darya]] to the [[Kungrad]] compressor station in Uzbekistan. From Kungrad, most of the gas is carried via Kazakhstan to the [[Alexandrov Gay]] gas metering station in Russia.<ref name=iea-caspia>
{{cite book
 | url = http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/1990/caspian_oil_gas98.pdf
 |title= Caspian Oil and Gas
 | publisher= [[International Energy Agency]]
 | format=PDF
 | isbn = 92-64-16095-7
 | year = 1998
 | accessdate=2007-12-21}}
</ref>  At [[Alexandrov Gay]] CAC pipelines meet with Soyuz and Orenburg–Novopskov pipelines. From there two lines run northwest to [[Moscow]], and two others proceed across the Volga river to the North Caucasus-Moscow transmission system.<ref name=wp28/>  The diameter of most pipelines varies from {{convert|1020|to|1420|mm|in}}. Current capacity of the system is 44&nbsp;billion cubic meters (bcm) per year. An agreement is in place to increase capacity to 55&nbsp;bcm per year by 2010 and through modernization there is potential to increase capacity to 90&nbsp;bcm per year.

The western branch originates at Okarem near the Turkmenistan–Iran border and runs north. It is supplied by gas from fields scattered along the Caspian coast between Okarem and [[Balkanabat]].  It continues via [[Uzen, Kazakhstan|Uzen]] in Kazakhstan to the [[Beyneu]] compressor station, where it meets the eastern branch of the CAC. South of [[Hazar, Turkmenistan|Hazar]], the western system consists of {{convert|710|mm|in|-1}} diameter pipeline, and  between Hazar and Beyneau {{convert|1220|mm|in|-1}} diameter pipeline.<ref name=iea-caspia/>

==Caspian coastal pipeline==
On 20 December 2007, Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan agreed to construct a new Caspian pipeline parallel to the existing CAC-3 pipeline.  The pipeline is planned be built between Belek compressor station in Turkmenistan and Alexandrov Gay compressor station.<ref name=edm>
{{Cite news
 | url = http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=33246
 | first = John C. K.  | last = Daly
 | title = Turkmenistan, Natural Gas, and the West
 | newspaper = Eurasia Daily Monitor
 | publisher = [[Jamestown Foundation]]
 | date = 14 December 2007
 | accessdate = 2010-10-28}}
</ref>  Capacity of the new pipeline will be 20–30&nbsp;bcm per year and it would be supplied from the planned [[East–West pipeline]].<ref name=ft>
{{cite news
 | author= Isabel Gorst
 | url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/674201a6-aefe-11dc-880f-0000779fd2ac.html
 | title= Russia seals Central Asian gas pipeline deal
 | publisher=[[Financial Times]]
 | date= 20 December 2007
 | accessdate=2007-12-20}}
</ref><ref name=nca231209>
{{cite news
 | url= http://www.newscentralasia.net/moreNews.php?nID=508
 | title= Turkmenistan-Russia Breakthrough: Resuming Gas Supplies, Building Pipelines
 | agency = News Central Asia
 | date=23 December 2009
 | accessdate=2010-05-29}}
</ref>  Construction of the pipeline was to start in the second half of 2009.<ref name=downstream111108>
{{cite news
 | url = http://www.downstreamtoday.com/News/Articles/200811/Putin_Okays_Caspian_Gas_Pipe_Accord_for__13734.aspx
 | title = Putin Okays Caspian Gas Pipe Accord for Ratification
 | publisher = Downstream Today
 | date = 11 November 2008
 | accessdate = 2008-11-22}}
</ref>  However, the project was mothballed.<ref name=reuters231010>
{{cite news
 | url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE69M02I20101023
 | title= Russia, Turkmenistan extend Caspian gas link freeze-paper
 | agency = [[Reuters]]
 | date=23 October 2010
 | accessdate=2010-10-28}}
</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Kazakhstan|Russia|Energy}}
* [[Central Asia–China gas pipeline]]
* [[Bukhara–Tashkent–Bishkek–Almaty pipeline]]
* [[Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline]]
* [[Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*Chow, Edward, "Central Asia’s Pipelines: Field of Dreams and Reality," in [http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=456 Pipeline Politics in Asia: The Intersection of Demand, Energy Markets, and Supply Routes] ([[National Bureau of Asian Research]], 2010)

{{Pipeline Systems of Russia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Asia - Center Gas Pipeline System}}
[[Category:Natural gas pipelines in Russia]]
[[Category:Natural gas pipelines in Turkmenistan]]
[[Category:Natural gas pipelines in Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Natural gas pipelines in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Energy in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures built in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Energy in Central Asia]]
[[Category:Gazprom pipelines]]
[[Category:Kazakhstan–Russia relations]]
[[Category:Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan relations]]
[[Category:Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan relations]]
[[Category:Russia–Turkmenistan relations]]
[[Category:Russia–Uzbekistan relations]]
[[Category:Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan relations]]
[[Category:Soviet Central Asia]]