Energy Headlines

A top European official says the 28-nation European Union could begin receiving natural gas supplies from Turkmenistan by 2019, as part of a push to lessen dependence on Russia for Europe's energy needs.

Iran has voiced support for an overland pipeline through its territory. But the EU's Sefcovic said talks in the Turkmen capital last week with envoys from Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan focused on plans for a 300-kilometer trans-Caspian undersea pipeline that would connect with a second line. The second pipeline would run south of Russian territory, from the Turkish-Georgian border westward to Turkey's frontier with Bulgaria and Greece.

Sefcovic, in comments to Reuters news agency, declined to say how much gas Turkmenistan could supply Europe. But Turkmen officials said earlier this year that negotiations were under way to supply Europe annually with 10 to 30 billion cubic meters of gas.