Sabit Baghirov, the Ex-President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), the Existing Head of the Azerbaijan Entrepreneurship and Market Economy Development Fund, has told Trend that Turkmenistan's joining the construction of the TransCaspian Pipeline is the key topic of the agenda of the day to develop and reinforce bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
The preliminary cost of the construction of the new underwater gas pipeline (at existing prices of services and materials) is estimated at $11,5 bln. Its capacity can reach 22 bln. cubic meters of gas per year. The pipeline can be linked with the South-Caucasian Gas Pipeline (SCP). Notably, gas produced from the Azerbaijani offshore gas condensate field, Shah-Daniz is being exported to Turkey via the territory of Georgia via this pipeline only.
According to Mr. Baghirov, the election of the new Turkmenistani President may give an impetus to the development of bilateral relations between this country and Azerbaijan.
The expert also did not rule out that some issues connected with the status of the Caspian Sea, including the disputed Field of Kapaz may be solved.
Kurbankuli Berdimukhammedov has been announced the new President of Turkmenistan today. Presidential elections in this country were held in February. The first ever alternative elections in the country were appointed due to the death of the former permanent Turkmen leader, Saparmurat Niyazov.