Russia seeks resumption of Turkmen gas imports

Russia wants to resume natural gas imports from Turkmenistan under existing contracts, a Gazprom deputy CEO said on Tuesday.

BERLIN, May 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia wants to resume natural gas imports from Turkmenistan under existing contracts, a Gazprom deputy CEO said on Tuesday.

Gas supplies to Russia have been suspended since Turkmengaz, Turkmenistan's state-run gas company, reported a pipeline blast and an ensuing blaze early in April.

Alexander Medvedev said that the issue of resuming supplies depends on the Turkmen side.

"We are prepared to accept Turkmen gas in accordance with our contractual terms," he told a Berlin conference on the Russia-EU energy dialogue.

Turkmenistan earlier accused Russia of cutting its import volume without warning the Turkmen side, resulting in a pressure buildup in the pipeline that caused the blast.