ASSESSMENTS

Turkmenistan, U.S.: The Politics of Natural Gas Deals

Nov 18, 2009 | 23:29 GMT

MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/AFP/Getty Images

Summary

U.S. oil major Chevron and the Turkmen government are in talks over Chevron's possible participation in development of the South Iolotan natural gas field. Turkmenistan would welcome additional natural gas production, as it would help Ashgabat balance its obligations to Russia with increased exports to China and Iran. However, if the United States begins trying to tell Turkmenistan where and how to export its energy supplies, it could prompt Russia to use its considerable leverage against Turkmenistan in order to secure its Central Asian natural gas imports.

U.S. oil major Chevron's involvement in developing a Turkmen natural gas field could prompt Russia to put pressure on Turkmenistan if energy exports to Russia are jeopardized....

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