Azerbaijan, Baku, 12 August / Trend corr. A.Badalova/ European countries will get interested in transportation of Iranian gas via Turkey to Europe, international experts said to Trend .
Iran and Turkey achieved an agreement on production, export and prices of the natural gas extracted from Iran's South Pars field. A part of the gas will be used in Turkey and a part will be exported to Europe. According to outline agreement, Turkey will invest $3bln in South Pars gas deposits.
Carlo Stagnaro, Director of the Energy & Environment Department at the Bruno Leoni Institute, believes that Iran, as a source of gas, would help Europe to diversify its imports.
"Iran, as a source of gas, would help Europe to diversify its imports in the same way as the other Caspian countries would do, and in this way it would make Europe more secure and flexible," Stagnaro said to Trend via e-mail.
According to the Italian expert, Europe will have a major interest in gas exporter alternatives.
According to Ahmad Jansiz, Iranian expert and a political scientist on international issues, despite of the sanctions, the European countries want Iranian gas to be transported to Europe with minimum investments.
"The European countries are well aware that they will be profited by the Iranian gas delivery to these countries through Turkey," Jansiz said to Trend in a telephone conversation.
According to Jansiz, the European countries' trust for the Russian gas reduced.
"Relations between Russia and Ukraine and the possibility of suspension of the Russian gas delivery to the European countries make Europeans seek alternative cheap ways," Iranian expert said.
Europe needs gas of any country, Pinar Ipek, an expert of the Turkish Bilkent University, said to Trend in a telephone conversation.
"At present three countries - Russia, Norway and Algeria - meet the European Union's (EU) gas demand, with the key role belonging to Russia," she said.
According to Ipek, however, the Iranian nuclear program may be an obstacle for the Iranian gas export.
This week, the European Union (EU) divulged its intention to impose new sanctions on Iran in response to Tehran's refusal to suspend its nuclear program. The EU intends to restrict issuing of state loans to the companies maintaining trade relations with Iran, as well as to inspect the financial organizations connected with Iranian banks. The EU representatives will also begin examination of all planes and ships headed to Iran and back.
"Iranian gas delivery to Europe will depend on the result of the crisis between the EU and Iran," Ipek said.
According to Ipek, preference will be given to the Turkmen and Iraq gas should the nuclear problem not be solved.
According to experts, it is possible to deliver Iranian gas to Europe through the Turkish territory.
"Despite of the United States' dissatisfaction, the project will be realized in near future. Turkey possesses a good potential for Iran and vice versa. Both sides believe that export of the Iranian gas to Turkey and Europe will be realized," Jansiz said.
"The pipeline, which is being constructed for gas delivery from Iran to Turkey and Europe, has been built to the Turkish border, as well as some work has been carried out in Turkey. However, some problems, which aroused within last two years, including the presidential elections in Turkey and interference of the Turkish party into the state policy, have delayed implementation of the project," he said.
According to Stagnaro, settlement of Iran's nuclear problem will be a long process, but also a necessary one - in the interest of Iran as well as of Europe and the rest of the world.
"Of course Iran has a major problem in attracting investments. Iran also needs to reform its political system in order for the international and US sanctions to be removed," Stagnaro said.
The experts believe the agreement on gas pipeline, which will be inked during the Turkish President's expected visit to Iran, will be of mutual interests.
"This agreement is also positive because it will contribute to make stronger the interdependence between Europe and Turkey, and will help a greater economic integration," Stagnaro said.
According to the Iranian expert, the agreement will bring in big revenues to Iran, Turkey and Europe.
" Iran is seriously prepared to transport gas to Turkey and Europe and Turkey knows it will get big profits if the project is realized," Jansiz said.
T.Jafarov and S.Ilhamgizi contributed to the article.
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