China set to turn on taps to Turkmenistan gas

China is to inaugurate part of a new pipeline that delivers gas to its energy-hungry economy from Turkmenistan. Leaders from both countries will attend a commissioning ceremony to open the 1,833km section. The head honchos of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will attend too, as the pipeline also crosses their countries. The new pipeline is said to break Russia's stranglehold on gas supplies, and will enable Central Asian states to divert energy reserves to the Far East and not just Europe. At 7,000km in total, the pipeline will need a lot of security when finished. But that’s another story. Read more: BBC