Iran has commenced gas transit from Turkmenistan to Turkey under a swap agreement, enhancing local supply and strengthening its energy hub status. While operational, further details regarding the agreement are expected to be disclosed in the future. Turkmen gas is set to start flowing to Turkey on March 1, with discussions ongoing among the three nations to finalize the deal’s specifics.
Iran’s oil minister has announced the commencement of gas transit from Turkmenistan to Turkey. This initiative is part of a swap agreement whereby Iran receives gas in the northeast and supplies an equal amount to Turkey, thereby enhancing its gas delivery capability to areas that typically experience pressure drops due to distance from production sites.
Minister Mohsen Paknejad emphasized that the gas swap would solidify Iran’s status as a significant energy hub in the region. He stated, “This effort is a sign of government’s determination to expand energy diplomacy,” highlighting the benefits that will accrue from this arrangement.
While confirming that the agreement is operational, Paknejad noted that further details about the gas swap between Iran, Turkmenistan, and Turkey have yet to be published. He stated, “One can say that this agreement has become operationalized, but we should wait until other aspects of the agreement can be publicized in the media in the future.”
Turkmenistan’s state-owned gas company, Turkmengas, has reportedly signed a deal with Turkey’s BOTAS for gas exports through Iran starting March 1, as confirmed by the official publication Neutral Tyrkmenistan. Turkmenistan’s chairman has publicly praised the agreement as a pivotal step for regional energy collaboration.
Additionally, visiting Turkmen Foreign Minister Raşit Meredow met with Iranian officials to discuss the partnership further. However, no official statements from the involved nations concerning the scale and pricing of gas supplies have been made.
According to a report from Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Turkmengas is expected to utilize surplus capacity in Iranian pipelines to provide approximately 4 billion cubic meters of gas annually to BOTAS. Iran has also established multiple gas swap agreements with Turkmenistan, facilitating supply to Azerbaijan and Iraq. Notably, this arrangement is expected to enable Turkey to transport some of its Azerbaijani gas imports to Europe.
In summary, Iran has initiated a gas transit agreement with Turkmenistan to Turkey, enhancing its role as a regional energy hub and improving local gas supplies. Though the agreement is operational, finer details are pending publication. As regional cooperation deepens, Iran continues to leverage its gas swap arrangements to foster energy diplomacy and connectivity with its neighbors.
Original Source: www.presstv.ir
