Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran
Aug 16 2005
Five-partite meeting on Iran’s gas export to Europe to be held
Tehran, Aug 16, IRNA
Iran-Gas Export-Europe
Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Seyed Mohammad-Hadi
Nejad-Hosseinian here Tuesday hoped that the five-partite meeting of
Iran, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and Russia on export of gas from Iran
to Europe via Ukraine will be held by September.
He told IRNA that Russia’s approval of the project will expedite
the process.
Stressing that the Europeans are in dire need of Iran’s gas, he added
that guarantee for future supply of energy is of great importance to
Europe and that they are both interested in and need to import gas
from Iran.
“Given that China, India and Pakistan are among Iran’s gas clients
and keen to bolster relations with the country, if other consumers of
gas do not proceed in time they may face a shortage of gas available
for export.
“Turkey is currently the only importer of gas from Iran and transfer
of gas to Europe via this country is one of the options on the agenda.
“Turkey’s recent reaction to the issue and its intention to purchase
gas from Iran and sell it to Europe directly, is not acceptable to
Iran, since another option would be to transfer it via Ukraine,”
he added.
Nejad-Hosseinian noted that Turkey cannot insist on following such
a procedure in order to become a member of European Union, since it
is not supported by EU.
Concerning export of gas from Iran to Europe via Ukraine it should
be said that a cooperation agreement has recently been inked to the
effect between the two states, but that the volume of the gas to be
transferred via this route has not been distinguished yet.
Ukraine has proposed two pipeline routes to Iran for transfer of gas:
one is Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia-Ukraine-Europe and the other is
Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea-Ukraine-Europe.
The expenses of each of the two suggested routes have been assessed
by Ukrainian sources at 10 billion dollars.