Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. A.Alaskarov / As a result of long-term negotiations between Turkey and Iran a bilateral agreement on producing and transporting Iranian gas was signed on 14 July. The agreement was signed by Kazim Vaziri Khamaney, the Iranian Oil Minister and Khilmi Gular, the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister.
In compliance with the new agreement Turkmen gas will be transported via Iran and Turkey. Moreover, Iran passed three new gas fields to Turkey. Turkey will independently exploit and export gas from the sea fields 'South Pars'. The Turkish company TPAO is planning to produce and transport gas. Some 26 gas fields were explored on Iranian territory of which № 22, № 23 and № 24 they are planning to pass to ТРАО. At present the foreign companies Petronas, Shell and Total operate in the area.
Turkish specialists reported that 56mln cu m of gas will be produced in the territory daily, which will allow delivery of some 20mln cu m to Turkey within a year.
Turkey is planning to build a 2,000 km gas pipeline from the Iranian settlement of Asuliye to the border of Turkey. Iran and Turkey agreed on the construction of the additional gas pipeline for transporting Turkmen gas to Europe within the framework of the Nabucco project.