ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 15 (UPI) -- Energy projects in Turkmenistan are important for the energy security of the European Union, the European energy commissioner said in Ashgabat.
EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger arrived Thursday in Ashgabat as part of a tour of energy-rich nations in the Caspian region.
Oettinger, during meetings with Turkmen officials, said energy projects in the country are vital for the European Union, the Trend news agency reports.
"Major European companies are interested in establishing full and mutually beneficial partnership with Turkmenistan," the commissioner said.
Oettinger during a stopover Wednesday in Azerbaijan stressed the importance of Caspian suppliers for the so-called Southern Corridor of transit networks.
Europe aims to break the Russian grip on its energy sector with Southern Corridor projects. They include the Nabucco gas pipeline, White Stream from Georgia and the so-called Interconnector between Greece, Turkey and Italy.
Oettinger said political stability and the huge resource potential in Turkmenistan made the country a reliable energy partner.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said his country was ready to consider "any proposal" to expand export routes.
