KIEV (Itar-Tass) – Ukraine is interested in the resumption of supplies of Turkmen gas, Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said at a meeting with Turkmenistan’ s Deputy Prime Minister Rashid Meredov, who is in Kiev on a visit.

Funny Businessin the Turkmen-Ukrainegas trade, a Report by GlobalWitness, April 2006 (PDF)

“We are continuing negotiations with Russia regarding the possibility of the resumption of deliveries of Turkmen gas,” Azarov said. “Of course, we are interested in restoring gas supplies to Ukraine both along traditional routes and through the yet-to-be created Caspian-Black Sea pipeline system. As the economy develops, Ukraine will be ready for financial participation in this project.”

He noted that as the Ukrainian economy developed, Kiev would be ready to help finance the project. Azarov stressed that Ukraine is continuing negotiations with Russia on the possibility of renewing gas deliveries from Turkmenistan.

Azarov said the project matched well the strategy to diversify gas supply routes, announced by the Turkmen side, and would be extremely beneficial to Ukraine and Turkmenistan, as well as the European consumers. He also recalled that Ukraine supported President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s idea of diversifying export routes for Turkmen hydrocarbons to world markets. According to Azarov, the Ukrainian gas transportation system remains the most reliable and cheapest mode of transportation of hydrocarbons to Europe from Asia. It can carry up to 140 billion cubic meters of gas a year, and when upgraded – up to 200 billion m³.