Kazakhstan eyes more gas supply from Turkmenistan over pipe rupture.

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22/9 Tass 184

ASTANA, September 22 (Itar-Tass) -- The authorities in the Mangistau
Region in western Kazakhstan are negotiating on higher gas supplies from
Turkmenistan over a major rupture of the Intergas Central Asia gas
pipeline, local media outlets reported with reference to regional chief
executive Krymbek Kusherbayev.
At an extraordinary meeting in the regional authorities he noted that
the gas pipeline rupture caused serious concerns over electric power
supplies for the region, because the deficit in gas supplies to the
nuclear power company MAEK-Kazatomprom is estimated at 85,000 cubic meters.
Before the accident on the gas pipeline the electric power subsidiary
MAEK generated 470 MWt and currently up to 75 MWt. "We are negotiating
with Turkmenistan on higher gas supplies to us for the necessary electric
power output," he pointed out, assuring that "electric power supply cuts
will mainly affect industrial enterprises and oil rigs."
The regional chief executive noted that the rupture occurred on the
section of the gas pipeline, which required an overhaul.
The gas pipe ruptured in two points on the Intergas Central Asia gas
mainline that triggered a fire at 1:40 a.m. local time (11:40 p.m. Moscow
time) overnight to Wednesday just a kilometer away from the settlement
Sai-Utes. The gas pumping along the gas pipeline was halted. No casualties
were reported. About 80 people and ten units of hardware, including an
emergency repair train, were involved in the gas pipeline restoration.
Intergas Central Asia is a daughter enterprise of KazTransGas. The gas
pipeline provides for the transit of "blue fuel" supplies from Central
Asia and Russia via Kazakhstan's territory.
A special committee is investigating the reasons for the two gas pipe
ruptures on the Intergas Central Asia gas pipeline. "The fire was put out
completely on the gas pipeline, and the special committee is investigating
the incident," a source in the Kazakh Ministry of Emergency Situations
said. According to the preliminary version, the wear and tear of the gas
pipe could have made it rupture.
"Since the end of August 2010 the repairs have been done on at the gas
mainline. The section, where the gas pipe ruptured, required an overhaul
and was included in the fourth stage of restoration works," the press
service of the Kazakh gas transportation company said in a statement on
Wednesday.
"Six combined brigades of the company are engaged in the restoration
works on the gas pipeline. The gas supplies in the southern direction were
not halted. At present the city and the region receive the gas supplies in
required volume for consumption," the press service reported.
-0-baz/kud