10:20 - 6.08.2025

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August 6, Fineko/abc.az. The European Commission has confirmed that Turkmenistan can play a role in EU’s efforts to diversify sources of gas supplies through the Southern Gas Corridor.

ABC.AZ informs, referring to a source in the commission, that energy relations between the EU and Turkmenistan were established on the basis of a memorandum signed in 2008. The document stipulates cooperation in the field of energy security, infrastructure of mutual interest, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. A bilateral working group has been established to support regular dialogue on natural gas.

The commission stated that although decisions on specific infrastructure projects are made by companies and national institutions, Turkmenistan's plans to increase gas exports could help achieve EU goals in diversifying supplies through the SGC.

"Our policy under the REPowerEU plan, launched in 2022, is aimed at abandoning Russia's energy resources. For example, Russia uses energy as a weapon and is waging a large-scale aggressive war against Ukraine. On May 6, the commission presented the REPowerEU roadmap, stipulating a coordinated, safe and phased phase-out of imports of Russian gas, oil and nuclear energy.
And in June, we put forward a legislative proposal. After approval by the European Parliament and the EU Council, this proposal will ban the import of Russian gas," commission’s representative said.
The source added that decisions on the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline and other infrastructure initiatives remain the prerogative of Turkmenistan, private investors and regional partners. In addition, according to the current rules, the EU is no longer able to invest budgetary funds in international residual energy projects.