Berdymukhammedov’s comments came after a meeting with Russia’s Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov in Ashgabat.

"There is a possibility to start the project earlier," Berdymukhammedov was quoted as saying by Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency.

Zubkov said the trilateral agreement on construction of the Caspian gas pipeline between Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan would be signed very soon. Signing of the agreement had initially been expected by September 1.

The parties have agreed on the "rapid construction," Zubkov added.

In May, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan agreed to build the new Caspian gas pipeline along the coast of the Caspian Sea from Turkmenistan through Kazakhstan to Russia, striking a serious blow to the US, which backed an alternative route across the Caspian Sea bypassing Russia.

The three countries also agreed to expand by 20 billion cubic meters/year capacity on the existing Central Asia-Center gas transportation system, to which the new Caspian line will be connected. The CAC pipeline is currently using its full capacity of nearly 60 Bcm/year.

Neighboring Uzbekistan, which is also linked to the CAC, is expected to join the expansion project.