The possible transportation of gas across the Caspian Sea by subsea pipeline is considered the priority route, although opportunities for gas transportation via Russia and Iran are also being studied. The initial cost of the construction of a subsea gas pipeline (at current prices for services and materials) is put at $11.5 billion: its capacity could reach 22bn cum/yr m a year.
INOGATE is an international cooperation program, which targets assistance to the regional integration system of oil and gas pipelines, as well as the implementation of oil and gas transportation to CIS countries and towards European markets. The programme acts as a stimulus to attract private investors and international financial organizations for the projects. The countries which have signed the Frame Agreement are Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Croatia.
