Turkmenia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan since year 2009 will sell the gas by European prices

/INTERFAX-AGI, Moscow, March 11, 08/ - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan since year 2009 will sell gas by European prices. As the press-service of Gasprom informed, on Tuesday in Moscow had taken place the meeting of chairman of board of Gazprom Alexey Miller, president of NC KazMunayGas Uzakbay Karabalin, chairman of board of NHC Uzbekneftegas Nurmukhammed Akhmedov and chairman of GC Turkmengas Yagshigeldy Kakayev. During the meeting heads of gas companies of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan announced that "based upon interests of national economies, considering international liabilities for provision of safety and continuous deliveries of energy carriers, since year 2009 selling of natural gas will be executed by European prices", is noted in the announcement of Russian company. The cheaper compared to Russian middle Asian natural gas is the basis for gas supply of Ukraine. In current year it receives the gas at $179.5 per thousand of cubic meters compared to price of European level at $315 per thousand of cubic meters, at which Gasprom is estimating its fuel for delivery of gas to Ukraine. The source, familiar with situation, informed to Agency of gas information (AGI) that in the end of November 2007 Gasprom forecasted the price for gas in Europe in the middle of year at the level of $354 per thousand cubic meters. "Currently prognosis of average price of Russian gas delivery to Europe in year 2008 makes $378 with possible growth till the end of year to $400", - added the source, making a reservation that for determination of price for concrete consumers it is necessary to make the amend for transport. The given decision also becoming new, or even final factor in the fate of alternative projects for delivery of middle Asian gas to European markets, such as Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. Countries of Middle Asia supported this project only because they could not receive the adequate European price for their gas. So, one and half year ago the executive director of gas projects' block of KazMunayGas Bakhytjan Isengaliyev told that "enough rough position of Gasprom (...) do not let Kazakhstan (...) to sell gas to Eastern and Western Europe at acceptable market prices. Situation, which is forming in ore relations, makes Kazakhstan to seek for alternative ways of export Kazakhstan hydrocarbons". Announcement of heads of three companies of middle Asia also is creating the new area for negotiations of Gasprom about price of selling of gas to China. [2008-03-12]