Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Dec. 18 / Trend H. Hasanov /
An Iranian delegation led by Deputy Oil Minister and chairman of the National Gas Company Javad Oji is discussing issues of further increasing cooperation in Ashgabat, the Turkmen government said today.
The meetings took place in the government and the state concern Turkmengaz. The discussions are planned to be held at the Foreign Ministry.
'It was stressed that the stable dynamics is inherent in the growing bilateral partnership in all areas including the strategic fuel, energy sector', the message said. 'Several important gas pipeline construction projects have been implemented'.
The parties also stated the huge potential in the energy sector as being most exemplary in promoting full interstate dialogue and called for intensifying joint work in this direction.
According to the government report, commissioning an additional Dovletabad-Sarahs-Hangeran gas pipeline in 2010 testifies to the close ties between the two countries.
'Appreciating a positive trend of Turkmen-Iranian cooperation, Javad Oji reaffirmed the commitment of his country to enhance the productive partnership, based on the foundation of traditional friendship between the two neighbouring nations', the message said.
Turkmenistan and Iran have a common land border. They are neighbours on the Caspian Sea. The oil and gas sector is a strategic direction of cooperation.
Turkmen gas supplies to Iran began after commissioning the Korpedje-Gurtguyy gas pipeline in 1995. In 2009, the two neighbouring countries opened up additional capacity on the Dovletabad-Sarahs route.
A related branch over the territory of Iran from Sarakhs to the settlement of Sangbast through Hangeran was opened in November 2010.
Tehran and Ashgabat are negotiating to increase Turkmen gas supplies to Iran. Iranian media reported in late November that during the past six months, Iran received an average of five million cubic meters of gas per day from Turkmenistan. Taking into account the results of the negotiations between the two countries, the volume of supply is expected to increase up to 40 million cubic meters gas in two to three weeks.
