Second Pipeline Will Boost Gas Exports By 12 bcm a Year

Ashgabat,  Jan. 05, 10 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Iran and Turkmenistan will inaugurate their joint gas pipeline on Wednesday during Iranian President’s visit to Ashgabat.  During the opening ceremony Presidents of Iran, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan will be present, as the launch of such major energy route increases closer cooperation among the neighbors.

 

The 31 km pipeline will deliver Turkmen gas at the Dovlatabad field to Sarakhs, an Iranian border town, which would enable the latter to free up its own gas for exports to international market. Russia, Iran and Turkmenistan enjoy massive natural gas reserves and possess enormous potentials to supply energy to Europe, Asia, and Indian sub-continent through pipelines.

 

Iran and Turkmenistan have already signed agreements for export of 20 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas to Iran. "...launching the pipeline... will allow (Turkmenistan), along with existing facilities, to raise natural gas supplies to Iran to 20 billion cubic meters a year," the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Monday.

 

Both countries are well poised to join the NABUCCO pipeline project, which will then transport gas from the region to Europe thus easing some pressure on Russia as the sole supplier of this important yet finite bi-product of Mother Nature.

 

Turkmenistan currently exports 8 billion cubic meters of gas to Iran and the launching of the second pipeline will more than double the exports. Ashgabat also supplies 40 bcm of natural gas to China each year.