“Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan–Kazakhstan–China” gas pipeline – alternative way of Asian gas transportation

ASHGABAD. December 13. KAZINFORM /Aigul Tulekbayeva/ Kazakh President N.Nazarbayev will take part in launching of "Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan - Kazakhstan - China" gas pipeline on December 14 together with the Heads of other participating states. According to Managing Director of "KazMunaiGaz" JSC Bolat Nazarov, the importance of the pipeline is in that it provides an alternative way of Asian gas transportation. The capacity of the pipeline is 40 bln cubic meters per year.

He stressed that the main goal of our state is multi-vector gas transportation and it will be achieved after the launching of the pipeline.

"This pipeline is considered to be the first part of the pipeline for Kazakhstan. We signed the supplement intergovernmental agreement on construction of the second part of the pipeline - "Beineu - Bozoi - Akbulak" in October in Beijing", B.Nazarov said.

According to him, the construction of 1400 km long second part of the pipeline will be started in 2010 and finished in 2012.     

 "The construction of the pipeline will allow us to use gas for home consumption. This is the first goal. If the market allows Kazakhstan will export its gas to China", he noted.

As Managing Director of KazTransGaz Nurlan Kazymbet noted the implementation of the project "Kazakhstan - China" pipeline will create about 700 jobs in the country and boost the coffers with tax revenues.

According to him, about four thousand specialists were involved in the construction process of the pipeline. Three thousand out of them are Kazakh specialists.   

"Creation of about 600-700 permanent jobs is expected during the period of gas pipeline operation", N.Kazymbet said. He also noted that "Kazakhstan - China" gas pipeline construction is the first export pipeline in the history of independent Kazakhstan.