OREANDA-NEWS. September 14, 2009. Russian and Turkmenistani leaders failed to approve a scheme for resuming gas deliveries from Turkmenistan to Russia which were disrupted after an explosion at the gas pipeline this spring. For the record, an accident at the trunk gas pipeline this April deprived Turkmenistan, Gazprom’s largest gas supplier, of the possibility to export gas for six months.

Ashgabat accused Russia of the accident that occurred at the gas pipeline which was erected back in Soviet times, while sources said gas shipments won’t be resumed because of the discord the parties have about gas prices and volumes. Last Thursday a Western analyst who met with Turkmenistani senior officials said the Central Asia state hoped to come to terms with Moscow as to resume gas deliveries during the official visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Turkmenistan. On Sunday presidential aide on foreign policy issues Sergey Prikhodko told the media that Russian and Turkmenistani representatives will meet in the near future to make a final agreement on the schedule and prices.

“It is evident that in the coming weeks Gazprom will contact Turkmenistani competent authorities to agree upon terms to continue this cooperation,” he said. “I proceed from the fact that our price parameters tend to change on the market,” Prikhodko said about prices. “As for the liquidation of this technogenic accident, I would like to say that Turkmengaz has taken a timeout from Gazprom…conducting final defect detection operations…,” said Turkmenistani President Kurbankuly Berdymukhamedov to the Russian President Sunday. He went on to say that all issues were resolved.. while price formation, as all parties understand, will be based on the formula.