New Russian gas deal bad news for Europe: US

PARIS (AFP) – A pipeline deal signed at the weekend by Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, giving Russia access to gas from the Caspian Sea, is bad news for Europe, US Energy Secretary
Samuel Bodman said here on Monday.

“Europe needs to diversify its energy sources and Europeans should take due note of this,” Bodman told a press conference during a meeting of the International Energy Agency.


The presidents of Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, meeting in the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi, on Saturday agreed on the restoration of an existing pipeline. They also decided on new construction on a route from Turkmenistan to Russia via Kazakhstan.

The deal represented a major triumph for Moscow, which has long pushed the route over the rival Nabucco project, a US proposal that would cross the Caspian.

The accord was also seen as likely to increase Europe’s energy dependence on Russia.

AFP