Iran Initiates Gas Transit from Turkmenistan to Turkey

Iran has begun receiving Turkmen gas and delivering it to Turkey as part of a swap agreement. This initiative aims to improve gas supply in northeastern Iran and strengthen Iran’s position as an energy hub. Although the deal has been operationalized, details about its specifics, such as pricing and supply volumes, are yet to be disclosed.

Iran has officially begun transiting natural gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey, as announced by the nation’s oil minister, Mohsen Paknejad. Under a swap agreement, Iran receives gas from Turkmenistan in the northeast and forwards an equal amount to Turkey. This transition is expected to enhance gas supply in Iran’s northeastern regions, where pressure is typically low due to distance from production centers.

Paknejad elaborated that this agreement is a crucial step in consolidating Iran’s role as a significant energy hub in the region, reflecting the government’s commitment to energy diplomacy. Despite the commencement of gas transit, he noted that the complete details of the gas swap contract involving Iran, Turkmenistan, and Turkey are still in the finalization process.

In February, Turkmenistan’s government reported that it had signed a deal enabling gas exports to Turkey via Iran, effective from March 1. This contract was celebrated by Turkmenistan’s chairman, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, during a discussion with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, highlighting the significance of enhancing regional energy collaboration.

Additionally, discussions in Tehran between Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Raşit Meredow and Iranian officials further advanced this initiative. Nevertheless, specifics concerning the volume and pricing of the gas supplies under this deal remain unclear at this time.

Reports reveal that the state gas company Turkmengas aims to utilize Iran’s underused export pipeline capacity to supply up to 4 billion cubic meters annually to Turkey’s BOTAS. This arrangement could potentially facilitate the transit of gas from Azerbaijan to European markets through Turkey.

The commencement of gas transit from Turkmenistan to Turkey via Iran represents a significant advancement in regional energy cooperation. The deal not only aims to optimize gas supply for Iranian consumers but also enhances Iran’s stature as a regional energy hub. However, key details about gas pricing and supply volumes are still pending clarification, as the involved parties continue to finalize the agreement.

Original Source: www.presstv.ir