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Lklundin: /* See also */ {{Portal|Azerbaijan|Turkmenistan|Energy}} replaces {{Portal|Turkmenistan|Energy}}

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‎See also: {{Portal|Azerbaijan|Turkmenistan|Energy}} replaces {{Portal|Turkmenistan|Energy}}

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{{Infobox pipeline
| name = Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline
| type =
| photo = Baku pipelines.svg
| caption = The Trans/Caspian gas pipeline would run under the Caspian Sea from Türkmenbaşy to the Sangachal Terminal, where it would connect with the existing pipeline to Erzurum in Turkey, which in turn would be connected to the Southern Gas Corridor, thus taking natural gas from Turkmenistan to Central Europe.
| map =
| country = [[Turkmenistan]]<br/>[[Azerbaijan]]
| state =
| province =
| coordinates =
| lat =
| long =
| direction = East–west
| start = [[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]]
| through = [[Caspian Sea]]
| finish = [[Sangachal Terminal]], [[Baku]]
| par =
| owner =
| partners =
| operator =
| technical_service_provider =
| contractors =
| construction =
| expected =
| est =
| decom =
| length =
| length_mi =
| discharge = {{convert|30|e9m3|abbr=off}}
| diameter_mm =
| diameter_in =
| compressor_stations_no =
| compressor_stations =
}}
The '''Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline''' ({{lang-az|'''Transxəzər boru xətti'''}}, {{lang-tk|'''Transhazar turbaly geçiriji'''}}) is a proposed [[subsea]] [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]] between [[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]] in [[Turkmenistan]], and [[Sangachal|Baku]] in [[Azerbaijan]]. According to some proposals it will also include a connection between the [[Tengiz Field]] in [[Kazakhstan]], and Türkmenbaşy.<ref name=oies>{{cite journal | first = Shamil | last = 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> The Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline project is purposed to transport natural gas from [[Turkmenistan]] and [[Kazakhstan]] to [[European Union]] member countries, circumventing both [[Russia]] and [[Iran]]. It is also considered as a natural eastward extension of [[Southern Gas Corridor]]. This project attracts significant interest since it will connect vast Turkmen gas resources to major consumer geographies as [[Turkey]] and [[Europe]].

==History==

===End of 1990s===
A project to import natural gas from Turkmenistan through a subsea pipeline was suggested in 1996 by the [[United States]].<ref name=rian1>
{{cite news
| url = http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20070514/65456353.html
| title = Energy nexus: Russia and Central Asia
| publisher = RIA Novosti
| date = 2007-05-14
| accessdate = 2007-05-20}}
</ref> In February 1999, the Turkmen government entered into an agreement with [[General Electric]] and [[Bechtel|Bechtel Group]] for a feasibility study on the proposed pipeline.<ref name=psg>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.bechtel.com/newsarticles/190.asp
| title = PSG International Secures Lead Role in US$2.5 Billion TransCaspian Pipeline Project
| publisher = [[Bechtel]]
| date = 1999-02-19
| accessdate = 2007-05-20 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070818040257/http://www.bechtel.com/newsarticles/190.asp  |archivedate = 2007-08-18}}
</ref> In 1999, while attending the [[Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development]] meeting in [[Istanbul]], Turkey, [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed a number of agreements concerned with construction of pipelines.<ref name=iscip>
{{cite news
| author = Miriam Lanskoy
| url = http://www.bu.edu/iscip/vol10/Lanskoy.html
| title = Can the OSCE Cope with the Caucasus?
| publisher = Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology, and Policy
| date = November–December 1999
| accessdate = 2007-05-20}}
</ref><ref name=rfe>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/rferl/1999/99-11-19.rferl.html#13
| title = Transcaspian gas pipeline accord signed
| publisher = RFE/RL
| date = 1999-11-19
| accessdate = 2007-05-20}}
</ref> However, because of [[Russia]]n and [[Iran]]ian opposition to the project, an unresolved legal dispute over Caspian Sea territorial boundaries and a gas discovery on Azerbaijan's [[Shah Deniz gas field|Shah Deniz field]], the submarine pipeline project was shelved in the summer of 2000 and only the [[South Caucasus Pipeline]] project continued.<ref name=turkishweekly1>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=44743
| title = End of Russian Monopoly in Energy?!
| publisher = The Journal of Turkish Weekly
| date = 2007-05-02
| accessdate = 2007-05-20}}
</ref>

===2006-2007===
In January 2006, as a result of the [[Russia-Ukraine gas dispute]], interest in the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline project was rekindled.<ref name=edm2>
{{cite news
| publisher = [[The Jamestown Foundation]]
| newspaper = [[Eurasia Daily Monitor]]
| first = Vladimir | last = Socor
| authorlink = Vladimir Socor
| url= http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=31316
| title= Interest Rebounds in Trans-Caspian Pipeline for Turkmen Gas
| date=2006-01-24
| accessdate=2007-05-20}}
</ref> On 11 January 2006, Azerbaijan's prime-minister [[Artur Rasizade]] proposed to his [[Kazakhstan]] counterpart [[Danial Ahmetov]] that Kazakhstan gas be exported through the South Caucasus Pipeline to Turkey and from there to the European market.<ref name=at1>
{{cite news
| author = Ilham Shaban
| url=http://www.azerbaijantoday.az/ARCHIVE/16/economics4.html
| title=The US Government Commences Lobbying Trans Caspian Pipeline Of This Project
| publisher = Azerbaijan Today
| date=May–June 2006
| accessdate=2007-05-20}}
</ref> In March 2006, Turkmen President [[Saparmurat Niyazov]] signaled his intention to rejoin possible negotiations on the pipeline.<ref name=edm2/> In May 2006, during his visit to Kazakhstan, the [[European Commissioner for Energy]] [[Andris Piebalgs]] professed [[European Union|EU]] support for the construction of the Trans-Caspian pipeline.<ref name=bbn>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.balticbusinessnews.com/newsletter/060508_bbn_newsletter.pdf
| title = EU approves giant Transcaspian pipeline project
| publisher = BBN Newsletter
| format = PDF
| date=2006-05-08
|accessdate=2007-05-20 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070929083437/http://www.balticbusinessnews.com/newsletter/060508_bbn_newsletter.pdf  |archivedate = 2007-09-29}}
</ref> Azerbaijan's Industry and Energy Minister [[Natig Aliyev]], while addressing an international energy conference in Baku, outlined the advantages of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline for diversifying supplies and restraining prices.<ref name=edm1>
{{cite news
| publisher = [[The Jamestown Foundation]]
| newspaper = [[Eurasia Daily Monitor]]
| first = Vladimir | last = Socor
| authorlink = Vladimir Socor
| url= http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=31531
| title=Azerbaijan Spearheading Initiative on Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline
| date=2006-03-30
| accessdate=2007-05-20}}
</ref> On the other hand, Russia's Industry and Energy Minister [[Viktor Khristenko]] commented that existing technical, legal, environmental and other risks relating to the trans-Caspian project are so great that it would be impossible to find an investor unless there is political backing for the project.<ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=21640
|title=Putin Triumphant in Turkmen Gas Deal
|publisher=[[St. Petersburg Times (Russia)]]
|date=2007-05-15
|accessdate=2007-05-19}}
</ref> On 12 May 2007, an agreement was signed between Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan providing for Central Asian gas to be exported to Europe through the reconstructed and expanded western branch of the [[Central Asia-Center gas pipeline system]]. This was seen as a setback for the realization of the Trans-Caspian Pipeline although Turkmen President [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow]] said that the Trans-Caspian pipeline project was not canceled.<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]]
|date=2007-05-17
|accessdate=2007-05-19
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225724/http://www.neurope.eu/view_news.php?id=73862
|archivedate = 2007-09-27}}
</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=2007-05-13
|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>

===2008===
On 4 September 2008, Iran's deputy foreign minister Mehti Safari confirmed that Tehran opposes the construction of any undersea pipelines in the Caspian because of environmental concerns.<ref>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.oilru.com/news/81667/
| title=Иран против прокладки трубопроводов по дну Каспия
| publisher=OILRU.COM
| date=2008-09-04
| accessdate=2008-09-06
| language = Russian}}
</ref> This jeopardizes the Trans-Caspian Gas pipeline project, according to regional expert Paul Goble.<ref>
{{cite news
| author = Paul Goble
| url=http://windowoneurasia.blogspot.com/2008/09/window-on-eurasia-moscow-wins-major.html
| title=Moscow Wins a Major Victory on Pipelines
| publisher=Window On Eurasia
| date=2008-09-05
| accessdate=2008-09-06}}
</ref> However, on 22 December 2008 Austria's [[OMV]] and Germany's [[RWE]], both partners in [[Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH]], announced they were setting up a joint venture named the Caspian Energy Company, to carry out exploration for a gas pipeline across the Caspian Sea that would feed into the Nabucco pipeline. Based on exploration outcomes the company plans to build and operate a gas transport system across the Caspian Sea.<ref name=downstream221208>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.downstreamtoday.com/News/Articles/200812/OMV_RWE_Launch_Caspian_Pipeline_JV_14357.aspx
| title = OMV, RWE Launch Caspian Pipeline JV
| publisher = Downstream Today
| date = 2008-12-22
| accessdate = 2008-12-25}}
</ref>

===2011–2012===
On 12 September 2011, the EU [[Foreign Affairs Council]] agreed to give a negotiating mandate to the European Commission for negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.<ref name=ev150911>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/politics-dog-eu-s-quest-for-gas/72020.aspx
| title = Politics dog EU's quest for gas
| agency = European Voice
| first = Toby | last = Vogel
| date = 2011-09-15
| accessdate = 2011-09-15}}
</ref><ref name=ft110911>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0490626a-dc6c-11e0-8654-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Y0r5bKHs
| title = EU set to act on Caspian pipeline plan
| newspaper = [[Financial Times]]
| first = Joshua | last = Chaffin
| date = 2011-09-11
| accessdate = 2011-09-15}}
</ref><ref name=reuters120911>
{{cite news
| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/12/eu-caspian-pipeline-idUKB5E7K600F20110912
| title = EU opens talks on Caspian gas pipeline - Commission
| agency = [[Reuters]]
| first = Charlie | last = Dunmore
| date = 2011-09-12
| accessdate = 2011-09-15}}
</ref> On 3 September 2012, after the meeting between the [[European Commissioner for Energy]] [[Günther Oettinger]], Turkish Energy Minister [[Taner Yıldız]], and Azerbaijani and Turkmenistani officials in [[Ashgabat]], Yıldız stated that Turkey will buy gas from Turkmenistan through the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.<ref name=edm110912>
{{cite news
| url= http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=39826&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=27&cHash=ada165e292483d300783a33604ab1ddf
| title= Turkey Sees Opportunity in Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Project
| first = Vladimir | last = Socor
| authorlink = Vladimir Socor
| volume = 9
| issue = 164
| publisher =[[Jamestown Foundation]]
| work = Eurasia Daily Monitor
| date=2012-09-11
| accessdate=2012-09-12}}
</ref>

===2013–2014===
An EU proposal generally named the [[Southern Gas Corridor]] project kindled interest in the Trans+Caspian pipeline as an alternative supply route to [[Gasprom]] monopoly to [[European Union]] markets. Turkmen gas would be carried along with Azeri gas from the [[Shah_Deniz_gas_field|Shah Deniz Gas Field]] by this pipeline.

===2015-2016===

One part of the [[Southern Gas Corridor]] <ref>{{cite web|title=TAP Awards Onshore Construction Contracts for Albanian and Greek Pipeline Sections|url=http://www.tap-ag.com/news-and-events/2016|accessdate=23 March 2016|date=4 March 2016}}</ref> will be laid between Greece and Italy via Albania starting in 2016 and this pipeline will join with the [[Trans-Anatolian_gas_pipeline|TAP Pipeline]] across Turkey which is under construction since 2015 and it will meet the existing [[South Caucasus Pipeline]] at the [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] border with Turkey

==Description==
[[Image:Oil pipelines in Europe.png|thumb|350px|Petroleum pipelines to Europe]]
The projected capacity of the pipeline is {{convert|30|e9m3|abbr=off}} of natural gas per year at an estimated cost of US$5 billion.<ref name=edm1/> In Baku, it would link to the [[South Caucasus Pipeline]] (Baku-[[Tbilisi]]-[[Erzurum]] pipeline), and through this with the planned [[Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline]].<ref name=caucaz>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.caucaz.com/home_eng/depeches.php?idp=1064
| title= Trans-caspian gas pipeline project: Azerbaijan might transit Kazakhstan gas to Georgia
| publisher = CAUCAZ.COM
| date=2006-04-23
| accessdate=2007-05-20}}
</ref> A feasibility study for the project funded by the [[United States Trade and Development Agency]] is carried out by Granherne, a subsidiary of [[KBR (company)|KBR]].<ref name=downstream1>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=10091
| title= KBR To Study Feasibility of Trans Caspian Pipeline
| publisher = Downstream Today
| date=2008-04-14
| accessdate=2008-04-19}}
</ref>

==Critics==
The project is heavily criticized by Russia and Iran, current transit countries for Turkmen gas. Alexander Golovin, special envoy on Caspian issues, has stated that a major gas pipeline would pose a serious, dangerous risk to the prosperity of the entire region.<ref name=eurasia2>
{{cite news
| first = Sergei | last = Blagov
| url = http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav032806.shtml
| title = Russia Tries To Scuttle Proposed Trans-Caspian Pipeline
| publisher = EurasiaNet
| date = 2006-03-28
| accessdate = 2007-05-20}}
</ref> According to the Russian Natural Resources Ministry, any gas or oil pipelines across the floor of the Caspian Sea would be environmentally unacceptable.<ref name=rian2>
{{cite news
| url = http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070125/59687576.html
| title = Russia says pipelines across Caspian Sea floor unacceptable
| agency = [[RIA Novosti]]
| date = 2007-01-25
| accessdate = 2008-06-01}}
</ref> Russia has also taken the legal position that a potential pipeline project, regardless of the route it takes on the seabed, would require the consent of all five Caspian littoral states in order to proceed.<ref name=eurasia2/> Iran has pointed out that treaties signed by Iran and the [[Soviet Union]] in 1921 and 1940 are still in force and that any action taken without the consent of all the littoral states would be illegal.<ref name=asiatimes>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/AB24Ag02.html
| title = Iran warns against trans-Caspian pipeline
| publisher = Asia Times
| date = 1999-02-24
| accessdate = 2007-05-20}}
</ref> In regard of the decision taken by the EU on 12 September 2011, Russia expressed its "disappointment" as it "seems to have been adopted without taking into account the internationally accepted legal and geopolitical situation in the Caspian basin," and as Caspian Sea littoral state, Russia could veto any international agreement allowing for the pipeline to be built.<ref name=euobserver140911>
{{cite news
| first = Valentina | last = Pop
| url = http://euobserver.com/19/113608
| title = Russia frets over EU plans to link up Caspian gas fields
| publisher = EU Observer
| date = 2011-09-14
| accessdate = 2011-09-15}}
</ref><ref name=reuters130911>
{{cite news
| first = Alissa | last = de Carbonnel
| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/13/russia-eu-caspian-pipeline-idAFL5E7KD2FW20110913
| title = Russia calls on EU to halt talks on Caspian gas pipeline
| agency = Reuters
| date = 2011-09-13
| accessdate = 2011-09-15}}
</ref>

In reaction to the 1999 plans for a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline Russia and Iran collaborated in calling for a Central Asian gas cartel in 2001 and 2002.<ref name=eurasia3>
{{cite news
| first = Stephen | last = Blank
| url = http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav051707.shtml
| title = Russia Takes a Step Towards the Formation of a Natural Gas Cartel
| publisher = EurasiaNet
| date = 2007-05-15
| accessdate = 2007-05-22}}
</ref> There is also a concern in the West that closer collaboration between Georgia and Azerbaijan will isolate [[Armenia]] and tempt it to strengthen ties with Russia and Iran.<ref name=iscip/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Azerbaijan|Turkmenistan|Energy}}
*[[Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea]]
*[[South Caucasus Pipeline]]
*[[Nabucco Pipeline]]
*[[Shah Deniz gas field]]
*[[Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline]]
*[[Trans-Caspian Oil Pipeline]]
*[[Energy policy of Russia]]
*[[Russia-Belarus energy dispute]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sras.org/geopolitics_of_oil_pipelines_in_central_asia The Geopolitics of Oil Pipelines in Central Asia], Article on the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline featured in Vestnik, the Journal of Russian and Asian Studies Winter 2007
*[http://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/552643 Caspian Pipeline Controversy] from the [http://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/552494 Dean Peter Krogh Foreign Affairs Digital Archives]

[[Category:Natural gas pipelines in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Natural gas pipelines in Turkmenistan]]
[[Category:Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:Energy in Central Asia]]
[[Category:Proposed pipelines in Asia]]
[[Category:Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan relations]]
[[Category:Submarine pipelines]]

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Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline - Revision history

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Lklundin: /* See also */ {{Portal|Azerbaijan|Turkmenistan|Energy}} replaces {{Portal|Turkmenistan|Energy}}