Turkmen gas for Britain

LONDON, July 29 (UPI) -- Exports of natural gas to Britain and other European markets are in line with national diversification efforts, the president of Turkmenistan said.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said his country has included Europe in its target markets as it moves to diversify its natural gas portfolio.

"The prospect of sending Turkmen natural gas to European markets, including Britain, is fully in line with Turkmenistan's plans to diversify its exports to world markets," he said.

Turkmenistan had a longstanding relationship with Russian energy giant Gazprom but turned its back on Moscow following a pipeline explosion in April that Ashgabat blamed on the Russian energy monopoly.

Prince Andrew, the duke of York and special British envoy for trade, told lawmakers from Turkmenistan his country would offer "substantial support" to help with the efforts to move into European markets, London's Daily Telegraph reports.

Europe sees Turkmenistan and other Caspian energy giants as the source for their $10.3 billion Nabucco pipeline, which would loosen the Russian grip on the regional energy sector. Nabucco has sweeping political support but lacks firm commitments from potential suppliers.

Turkmenistan is expected to provide the bulk of the 1.1 trillion cubic feet of gas slated for Nabucco each year.