| Abstract: |
After the Soviet breakup, Central Asia has gained importance for several
States because of its geographical location and abundance of hydrocarbon
reserves. These hydrocarbon reserves are located mainly in three countries:
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Each of them has taken different path
regarding its foreign policy and the regulation of investments and
participation of external companies and States in its energy sector. Through
the development, production and export of their oil and gas reserves, they
have pursued a ‘multi-vector’ policy, consolidating differently their
relations with other countries. The main States involved – at different levels
and for different reasons – in the oil and gas sector of the Central Asian
countries are: Russia, China, United States, European countries, Iran, India
and Turkey. Among these players, Russia considers Central Asia still part of
its sphere of influence for historical reasons, while it has to deal an
increasing presence of Beijing. The Western countries has gained influence
particularly in Kazakhstan, but they have no political leverage in
Turkmenistan. This working paper provides an overview of the current situation
of external players’ interests in the oil and gas industry of Kazakhstan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The working paper is structured into four
different sections. In the first section, the paper gives an overview of the
main interests and pillars of external involvement in Central Asia as a
region. The other three sections are devoted to provide separately the current
status of energy relations between each Central Asian country and external
players, starting from the closest countries (Russia and China) to the
regional ones (Iran, Turkey and India) until non-regional countries (United
States and European countries). During these analysis, investments in the oil
and gas sector as well as energy export routes and volumes are highlighted in
order to understand the current situation of the energy relations. At the end
of each country section, the main trends and interests of the countries in the
regional oil and gas sector are outlined. |