Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Nov. 12 / Trend H. Hasanov /
A second gas pipeline to Iran will launch in a southeastern region of Turkmenistan in December. The pipeline will increase gas exports to 20 billion cubic meters of fuel per year.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow visited the Dovletabad-Salyr construction site this week. The state concern Turkmengaz is ready to fill the pipeline with natural gas.
Information was disseminated in local media that specialists from the state concern have already completed the pipeline's construction. Its integrity has also been successfully tested and the facilities have been blown and cleaned.
The pipeline starts from the largest southeastern field Dovletabat in Turkmenistan.
Earlier Iran has received Turkmen gas from the western fields Korpeje. About 8 billion cubic meters of gas per year have been supplied from the field since 1996.
The capacity of the new gas pipeline covers an annual transportation of 12 billion cubic meters. The supplies will be delivered through the pipeline from Dovletabat.
Initially, the energy flow to Iran will be up to 14 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
The decision to build the second pipeline was made on a state level in July 2009.
The National Iranian Gas Export Company has confirmed their hope to increase Turkmen gas imports in 2010 to 14 billion cubic meters per year. These volumes will be partially provided by supplies via the existing Korpeje-Kurtkui pipeline.
The national television channel Altyn Asyr said accelerating natural gas cooperation with Iran is part of the Turkmen energy strategy based on principles of diversifying energy exports, mutual benefit, economic viability and healthy competition.
After inspecting the site, the Turkmen president stressed that the country has significant amounts of marketable gas. Demand on world markets will continue to grow, he said.
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