USA Targets Energy Resources: Focus on Turkmenistan

-DR. ABDUL RUFF

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ONE

Of course, USA is now the global dictator, controlling world affairs as self-appointed chief policeman, hitting hard those who it does not like...The job of this policeman includes ensuring energy security of USA, the world's top most terrocracy dressed in democracy suit. In fact, in waging illegal terror wars, the USA and Europe jointly pursue mainly energy resources in Islamic world, although other issues like defame of Islam and Islamic population reduction do play their destructive roles.   

It is amusing, rather amazing, to observe the patterns of US foreign policy to advance its global interests at cheap prices through fanatic mischief. Keeping in view its long term goals, USA is pushing hard to ensure the energy sources from Islamic world by hook or crook, by invasion or coercion, by threat and bully. While invading energy rich Muslim nations in Mideast for their energy resources, the USA is also making efforts to cement ties with many Muslim nations.

The energy hungry USA and Europe quickly entered the Central Asia following the disintegration of USSR as the  chief providers of democracy wholesale and retail and claimed their "fair share" in energy resources with Moscow playing double roles for making  maximum profits by both supporting and opposing the Western "interference" in Central Asian affairs.

One of the wealthiest  nations in CA region, Turkmenistan's GDP is high and its growth rate of 11% in 2010 ranked 4th in the world. It possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources. Although it is wealthy in natural resources in certain areas, most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert. USA was favoring Central nations, including Turkmenistan, in favor of its vast energy resources. Bilateral ties between the world's most dangerous USA and a corrupt Turkmenistan have come under strain in recent years, however, over Turkmenistan's interference in US student exchange programs and embarrassing revelations made in cables leaked by the firebrand WikiLeaks.

Turkmenistan is a net exporter of electrical power to Central Asian republics and southern neighbors.Turkmenistan imported goods, mostly for industrial purposes, worth U.S. $ 8 billion in 2010. The imports help implement specific program of import substitution in agriculture, food and light industry, as there is an accelerated development of Turkmenistan’s own base of consumer goods.  Oil and oil products, textiles, as well as minor amounts of agricultural products are the base products in Turkmenistan’s exports. Turkey, China, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, France and Germany are the major importers of Turkmenistan’s products.

TWO

Alexander the Great conquered the territory in the 4th century BC on his way to Central Asia, around the time that the Silk Road was established as a major trading route between Asia and the Mediterranean Region.  150 years later, Persia's Parthian Kingdom established its capital in Nisa, now in the suburbs of the capital.

Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR). After the disintegration of USSR five oil rich Muslim states came into being in Central Asia  - Turkmenistan is one which is pro-Moscow state. The USA sees Turkmenistan as key to ensuring energy security in neighboring Afghanistan. Washington also backs initiatives to build transportation routes to carry the country's natural gas to Europe, thereby minimizing Western reliance on Russian exports, although both USA and Russia cooperate on anti-Islamic projects in Afghanistan, central Asia indirectly and elsewhere.

 Turkmenistan ranks fourth in the world to Russia, Iran and Qatar in natural gas reserves.  Most of Turkmenistan's oil is extracted by the Turkmenistan State Company (Concern) Türkmennebit from fields at Koturdepe, Balkanabat, and Chekelen near the Caspian Sea, which have a combined estimated reserve of 700 million tons. The oil extraction industry started with the exploitation of the fields in Cheleken in 1909 (by Nobel brothers) and Balkanabat in the 1930s, then production leaped ahead with the discovery of the Kumdag field in 1948 and the Koturdepe field in 1959. Big part of the oil produced in Turkmenistan is refined in Turkmenbashy and Seidi refineries. Also, oil is exported by tankers through Caspian Sea to Europe via canals. Turkmenistan's gas reserves are estimated at 3.5-6.7 mcubic meters and its prospecting potential at up to 21 trillion cubic meters. In 2010 Ashgabat started a policy of diversifying export routes for its raw materials. China is set to become the largest buyer of gas from Turkmenistan over the coming years as a pipeline linking the two countries, through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, reaches full capacity. In addition to supplying Russia, China and Iran, Ashgabat took concrete measures to accelerate progress in the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and India pipeline (TAPI).

Turkmenistan is eager to be the Asian region’s promising and fast-growing gas market. Turkmenistan in August last  offered US energy majors their first concessions in the Central Asian state and said it was pursuing a $4.1 billion loan from China to develop one of the world's five largest natural gas fields and ship the gas east,  contracted out to Chinese state oil and gas firm CNPC and other Asian companies. Turkmenistan started gas exports to China in December 2009 along the trans-Asian pipeline with the throughput of 40 bcm per year. In January 2010, the second pipeline to Iran - Dovletabad-Sarahs-Hangeran – was commissioned, allowing Turkmenistan to increase gas exports to the neighboring country up to 20 bcm and more. State-owned Turkmengaz Corporation together with the invited service companies from China, Korea and the UAE carries out comprehensive development of the deposit, which will result in production of 30 billion cubic meters of gas already in 2012. The implementation of subsequent phases will provide an opportunity to boost production up to 40-70 bcm a year.  

Russia has already announced that Gazprom is ready for any cooperation, such as assistance in preparing the project, to become a contractor or become a full member of the consortium.

Last December Ashgabat hosted a summit of the heads of countries participating in a new ambitious energy project – Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India (TAPI) gas pipeline, through which Turkmen natural gas should flow to the markets of South Asia starting from 2015. In May, during the Turkmen President’s state visit to India, the host party expressed high interest in Turkmen gas supplies. It should be noted that India’s and Pakistan’s energy needs are increasing every year. India’s current energy demand is growing annually by 10 percent.  In 2008, India consumed about 43 bcm of gas, nearly 12 bcm of which was imported. Although TAPI envisages the daily delivery of 38 million cubic meters of gas to India, India wants more from Turkmenistan to meet the energy needs of our growing economy.  India is interested in the TAPI gas pipeline and long-term supplies of Turkmen gas. Pakistan also has good reason to support TAPI. In 2008-2009, Pakistan's needs in gas began to outpace the extraction by 5.7 million cubic meters a day.

India has been  looking around in all regions for new arms and energy resources. Although they  project a 'fight" scenario  in the media, India and Pakistan do cooperate on many issues abroad. Both have expressed interest in buying up to 70 billion cubic metres of Turkmen gas annually via an ambitious trans-Afghan pipeline, known as TAPI after the four countries through which it would pass. 

This pipeline, at a cost of $3.3 billion, could bring peace and stability to Afghanistan, as well as jobs and hard currency.  Gas could be drawn both from South Iolotan and the existing Dovletabad field. The planned pipeline would run for nearly 2,000 km (1,250 miles), including 735 km across Afghanistan and another 800 km through Pakistan. TAPI’s throughput capacity, which will run along the territories of Afghanistan and Pakistan till Fazilka settlement on the border with India, will be 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Of these, Pakistan and India will purchase 14 billion cubic meters (bcm), 5 bcm will be used for the needs of Afghanistan. As anticipated, the pipeline construction will start in 2012 and finish by the end of 2014. Investments in the construction of 1,735 km long gas pipeline are estimated at US$ 7.6 billion. Along with the ongoing exploration at the deposit, projects totaling nearly US$ 10 billion are already being implemented to accelerate the commissioning of the South Yoloten.

The idea to lay the pipe that would provide Turkmen gas with an access to markets in South Asia emerged in the mid 1990s. However, the civil war in Afghanistan remained the main obstacle to the project. In the next few years, the sharp deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan impeded TAPI’s realization.  The TAPI project participants have not agreed on the gas price, measures to ensure safety of gas pipeline, transit fee and creation of a consortium.

THREE

As part of permanent US energy agenda, the Obama regime is trying to rebuild the ties with energy rich Central Asian nation. US-Turkmen ties suffered as necessitated by Bushdom arrogance and Russian interference. Till now,Washington and Turkmen has had a period of a chill in relations under global dictator Bush Jr. Under the "pipeline" circumstances, the appointment by the USA of an envoy to Turkmenistan after a long gap gains importance.USA does not "do" things just like. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan, after meeting the new US envoy,  noted his country's willingness to further promote fruitful partnership with the US based on the principles of equity, long term and mutual benefit. New CIA agent is already in Turkmenistan, met the president of this energy-rich former Soviet republic. The US diplomat said that the USA attaches great importance to developing the traditionally friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Turkmen government as an important and responsible partner.

Washington sees Turkmenistan as key to ensuring energy security in neighboring Afghanistan which is under US occupation. Washington also backs initiatives to build transportation routes to carry the country’s natural gas to Europe, thereby minimizing Western reliance on Russian exports.

USA still talks about democracy rules. The Turkmen government, in continuation of Soviet legacy, offers a single-party system, which does not meet even the most basic standards of democracy. Turkmenistan was ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov.

Of course, USA or NATO cannot attack Turkmenistan on Sept-11 or democracy deficit gimmick or by engineering “uprisings” in Central Asia, considered to be the backyard states of the Kremlin.

What about US brand democracy- who will buy it?

Will Turkmenistan exchange its oil for US democracy so that it could exist without fear?

Will USA use Russia to bully other Central Asian states to promote NATO fascist interests? Why not?

Any country that does not support US imperialism and refuses to fall in line, would be dealt with just as sovereign Libya is now - is that not so, Mr. Obama?.