Iranian official denies importing 100mcm of gas from Turkmenistan

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.4 By Fatih Karimov - Trend: A spokesperson from the National Iranian Gas Company has denied news published by domestic media about importing 100 million cubic meters of natural gas from Turkmenistan, the Shana News Agency reported on December 4. Majid Boujarzadeh told Shana that the pipeline which carries Turkmen gas to Iran has the capacity to transfer 45mcm of gas per day. Iran will import up to the ceiling of 45mcm natural gas from Turkmenistan if required during the cold season, he added. On Tuesday, Mehr News Agency quoted Reza Padidar, head of the union of Iranian oil equipment producers as saying that Iran signed a deal with Turkmenistan, stating that Iran will import 100 million cubic meters of natural gas from its northern neighbour. Along with policies to increase domestic production of natural gas, a deal has been signed to import Turkmen gas, he added. He did not elaborate on any details of the deal. National Iranian Gas Company's Managing Director Hamidreza Araqi said on October 1 that Iran continues to import gas from Turkmenistan based on a new agreement. Moreover, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said that during his visit to Ashgabat, he negotiated with Turkmen officials on the two countries gas deal. "We intend to resume gas imports from Turkmenistan in exchange for exporting technical and engineering services to our northern neighbour," he added. In November, Mehr News Agency quoted Managing Director of Iran's Gas Engineering and Development Company, Ali-Reza Gharibi, as saying that Iran has reduced its dependency on importing natural gas from Turkmenistan through establishing new gas pressure boost stations.