Turkmenistan wants to build a gas pipeline to Europe that would bypass Russia and supply 30 billion cubic metres of gas a year.

The proposed pipeline would be 800 km long and pump gas from the South Iolotan gas field – the world’s second biggest – to the Caspian Sea where it would link with a European supply route.

Amanali Khanalyev, chairman of state gas firm Turkmengaz, told a gas industry conference that sections of the pipeline were being manufactured.

"We are also conducting negotiations with a host of international companies that have the requisite experience, technical capability and the means for raising finance to fulfill construction work on separate sections of the pipeline," he added.