Turkmenistan warns Russia against trying to extend its influence on Central Asian gas and China

Turkmenistan has warned Russia against trying to exert influence on the natural gas supply chain in the Central Asian region and China, after Moscow said that more countries may join its “gas union” with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan all pump gas to China via a pipeline that crosses the three countries, and the lion’s share of gas comes from Turkmenistan, as the other two countries are facing strong growth in domestic demand.

Russia, which is trying to open new markets for its gas in Asia after Western sanctions, said last year it would establish a gas union with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan that would facilitate the shipment and export of gas to them and other countries.
So far, the only practical step announced by the union has been a plan to reverse the route of another gas pipeline connecting Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with Russia, so that Russian Gazprom can ship gas to Uzbekistan, which is beginning to face energy shortages.