IRAN TO START GAS SHIPMENTS TO NAKHICHEVAN AUT. REPUBLIC

Asia Pulse
Oct 17 2005

BAKU, Oct 17 Asia Pulse – Head of ‘Azeri Gas’ company said here
Saturday that Iran will start shipments of natural gas to the
‘Nakhichevan autonomous Republic’ next month.

Ali Khan Melikov added that Iran plans to export 350 million cubic
meters of natural gas annually to Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

He added that the pipelines are ready to receive shipment of Iranian
gas and the necessary construction work in neighboring state is
almost complete.

The Tehran, Baku agreement calls for exchange of natural gas
between the two nations. The ‘Haji Ghabol-Astara’ pipeline is under
construction and will carry gas to Iran, he added.

The volume of gas from Ian to Nakhichevan is slated to be 52 million,
250 million and 350 million cube meters of gas, respectively,
he underlined.

Nakhichevan needs 250 million cubic meters of natural gas per year,
said Melikov adding that the country requires 100 million cubic meters
more to supply its power plant.

He said a 42-km-long gas pipeline will become operational between
Jolfa and Nakhichevan to put the project into practice.

The two sides reached the agreement during Iranian President Seyed
Mohammad Khatami’s visit to the autonomous republic.

According to the terms of the agreement, Iran will supply Azerbaijan
with a certain amount of natural gas through Astara a month in
advance and the following month Iran will supply a similar amount
to Nakhichevan.

Melikov said that to supply gas to Nakhichevan it is necessary to
carry out a range of preparation work to receive the gas, both in
the autonomous republic and in Astara.

The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, an Azerbaijani territory, is
situated to the south, separated from the remainder of Azerbaijan by
Armenian territory.

Azerbaijan ambassador to Iran said that Tehran-Baku trade exchange
has increased sixfold since 1998 reaching close to dlrs 600 million
annually.

Abassali Karam Oghlou Hassanov told IRNA in June that he expects the
bilateral trade volume to increase to dlrs one billion annually in
the near future.

He also said that various development and electricity projects underway
by the Iranian experts will strengthen overall relations between the
two nations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress