Iran's Envoy to Moscow Outlines a Russian Gas Pipeline Plan of Up to 110 Bcm a Year via Azerbaijan
Moscow — Iran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, said on Nov. 7 that Iran plans to build a new natural gas pipeline with Russia capable of carrying up to 110 billion cubic metres a year, bringing Russian gas to Iran via Azerbaijan. The plan remains at the pricing-negotiation stage; no contract has been signed.
Jalali said the first phase would carry 55 billion cubic metres a year and would take an estimated two to three years to complete. Details were discussed during a recent meeting between Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the general principles of the project had been approved at a trilateral summit of the presidents of Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan. The last remaining step, he said, was for the National Iranian Gas Company and its Russian counterpart to agree on a gas pricing formula, after which contracts could take effect.
Before any new pipeline is built, the short-term option is to rehabilitate and reactivate existing pipelines, which would require close coordination among Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan. The three sides are also discussing a faster swap arrangement under which Russia would deliver gas to northern Azerbaijan while an equivalent volume is transferred to Iran from southern Azerbaijan.
Iran faces chronic domestic gas shortages, especially in winter, while Russia has been seeking new outlets for its gas since losing Western markets. The plan would position Azerbaijan as the central transit link of the corridor.
(Source: TASS)
Source: TASS
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：天然气管道站（资料图）。照片：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 4.0。 / Photo: A natural gas pipeline station (file photo). Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
