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Turkmenistan has been forced to shut off 195 gas production fields as 92 percent of its exports to Russia remained suspended following an explosion in April, Platts news agency reported Friday, citing a Turkmen energy official.
The country blames a unit for blowing up the pipeline that carries more than half of its gas exports by cutting flows without enough warning.
"When you shut off the flows, you get what is called a vacuum-bomb effect," Odek Odekov, head of state geological institute Turkmengeologia, told reporters in Paris, RIA-Novosti reported. "The system has to be prepared for a shut-off three days in advance, and Russia did it in the course of one day."
Gazprom declined comment on Odekov's remarks. The company denies any wrongdoing.
The sides are discussing the payment of damages and may go to international arbitration courts if they cannot settle, he said.
Turkmenistan Renews Pipe Blast Claims
01 June 2009
Reuters
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