Hugo Chavez urges Turkmen leader to join "gas OPEC"

ASHGABAT, September 7 (Itar-Tass) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
on Monday came out with an offer to his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly
Berdymukhamedov to join an OEC type gas producers' cartel.
"We are creating a 'gas OPEC' akin to the oil one and you are welcome
to join," Chavez said at talks with the Turkmen president. The Venezuelan
leader is on the first official visit in Turkmenistan within the framework
of his world tour.
"Turkmenistan is placed fourth as to gas resources after Russia, Iran
and Qatar," Berdymukhamedov told his Venezuelan counterpart. "And this is
according to data on just one deposit, which contains 14 trillion cubic
meters of gas," he specified.
The Turkmen leader referred to the South Iolotan-Osman gas field,
which was last year certified by the British company Gaffney, Cline &
Associates (GCA).
"We will catch up with you or will unite our gas resources," Chavez
said in reply. "The organisation (gas OPEC) will become more powerful with
your participation," the Venezuelan president said. Chavez said Qatar,
Russia, Iran and Venezuela already support the idea to create a "gas OPEC".
Addressing his delegation, Chavez gave instructions to hand a package
of documents on setting up a "gas OPEC" to the Turkmen leader.
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