This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7153769.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Russian gas deal dashes EU hopes | Russian gas deal dashes EU hopes |
(1 day later) | |
Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan have signed a landmark deal to build a gas pipeline. | Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan have signed a landmark deal to build a gas pipeline. |
The pipeline will strengthen Moscow's control over Central Asian energy export routes, analysts said. | The pipeline will strengthen Moscow's control over Central Asian energy export routes, analysts said. |
It also deals a blow to European Union hopes of securing alternative routes that would bypass Russia. | |
The pipeline will skirt the Caspian Sea from Turkmenistan to southern Russia via Kazakhstan and will be built by the end of 2010. | The pipeline will skirt the Caspian Sea from Turkmenistan to southern Russia via Kazakhstan and will be built by the end of 2010. |
The trilateral agreement was signed in Moscow in the presence of President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. | The trilateral agreement was signed in Moscow in the presence of President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. |
EU disappointment | EU disappointment |
The agreement will likely disappoint the US and the EU, which have been lobbying for a rival pipeline to be built under the Caspian Sea, analysts said. | The agreement will likely disappoint the US and the EU, which have been lobbying for a rival pipeline to be built under the Caspian Sea, analysts said. |
The EU wanted a rival pipeline under the Caspian Sea | The EU wanted a rival pipeline under the Caspian Sea |
They had hoped to pipe Turkmen gas across the Caspian Sea via Turkey, in order to reduce the EU's dependence on Russian-controlled energy. | They had hoped to pipe Turkmen gas across the Caspian Sea via Turkey, in order to reduce the EU's dependence on Russian-controlled energy. |
The EU relies on Russia for about a quarter of its gas consumption. | The EU relies on Russia for about a quarter of its gas consumption. |
Prospects for pipelines under the Caspian have been clouded by high costs, environmental concerns and disputes over ownership of the sea resources. | Prospects for pipelines under the Caspian have been clouded by high costs, environmental concerns and disputes over ownership of the sea resources. |
"This is a very important agreement for the energy industries of our countries as well as for Europe's energy," President Putin told reporters. | "This is a very important agreement for the energy industries of our countries as well as for Europe's energy," President Putin told reporters. |
The deal follows a preliminary agreement reached in May. | The deal follows a preliminary agreement reached in May. |
The pipeline will export 20 billion cubic metres of gas a year - enough to cover the demand of a country such as France for almost half a year. | The pipeline will export 20 billion cubic metres of gas a year - enough to cover the demand of a country such as France for almost half a year. |
Other countries are also seeking access to the resource-rich region and work has begun on building another gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China. | Other countries are also seeking access to the resource-rich region and work has begun on building another gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China. |
Previous version
1
Next version