H.Torbati said on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of 3 plans for the 6th and 9th gas transmission lines, 5 compressor stations, Bushehr petrochemical and the west of Karoun:
- During the ICA ruling we expressed our interest to continue the import of Turkmenistan’s gas
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Currently some companies are still looking for gas swaps to be able to bring gas from Turkmenistan
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The issue of gas exports to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey is also on the table
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We have prepared the ground and fortunately there is enough capacity for gas swap
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This means that we can receive gas in the Northeast and transit and swap it wherever necessary; this infrastructure is now ready
The dispute dates back to 2007 when Turkmengaz stopped gas supplies to Iran because the Central Asian state was gripped by unseasonably cold temperatures that year.
Consequently, Turkmengaz increased its gas prices at least 3 times and Iran had no option but to agree to continue imports because the giant South Pars Gas Field was not ready and could not supply northern provinces, especially during the winter.
Rising gas prices caused NIGC’s debt to pile up in the following years. In 2016 Turkmengaz halted gas supplies to Iran on claims that NIGC’s past gas dues should be paid immediately.
NIGC had imported about 23 mcm of gas per day from Turkmenistan before the dispute.
