Iran, Pakistan sign gas export deal
IRAN: Iran and Pakistan formally signed on Sunday an export deal
which commits the Islamic republic to supplying its eastern neighbour
with natural gas from 2014. The contract is the latest step in
completing a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline between Iran and Pakistan
within the next four years.
“This is a happy day,” Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister Javad Ouji told
reporters at the contract signing ceremony in Tehran.
“After decades of negotiations, we are witnessing today the execution
of the agreement... to export more than 21 million cubic metres (742
million cubic feet) of natural gas daily from 2014 to Pakistan,” he
added.
He said that from Monday, Iran will start building the next
300-kilometre (187.5 miles) leg of the pipeline from the southeastern
city of Iranshahr to the Pakistani border, through the Iranian port of
Chabahar.
Iran has already constructed 907 kilometres of the pipeline between
Asalooyeh, in southern Iran, and Iranshahr, which will carry natural gas
from Iran’s giant South Pars field. Pakistan’s Deputy Energy Minister
Kamran Lashari, who was present at the signing ceremony, said that
Islamabad will conduct a one-year feasibility study for building its
section of the pipeline. It will then “take three years for constructing
the 700-kilometre pipeline” from the Iranian border to the Pakistani
city of Nawabshah, he added.
Tehran, Monday, AFP |