Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 21/ corr. Trend E.Ostapenko/
The Swiss company EGL (Elektrizitats-Gesellschaft Laufenburg) is negotiating with Turkey to conclude a transit agreement necessary for the transportation of the Iranian gas to Europe.
In March 2007, EGL, which owns generating assets in Europe, signed with the Iranian NIGEC a long-term contract to purchase gas on the DAF basis (Iranian-Turkish border) in the volume of up to 5.5 billion cubic meters annually, beginning from 2012.
In October, the Swiss delegation, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Ambol, visited Iran, where he discussed strengthening of economic relations between the two countries and the import of gas.
First small deliveries of the Iranian gas could take place as early as next year, provided we will receive the necessary gas transit agreements from Turkey, told Trend EGL spokeswoman Lilly Frei.
UN sanctions against Iran should not complicate gas imports from this country to Europe. The current sanctions that have been expressed by the United Nations do not touch in any way gas purchasing contract. They are related to nuclear activities. EGL is not doing any investment in Iran, but just buying gas.
"If the international community imposes any new sanctions that will touch gas sector, of course, we will obey," Frei said.
The EGL Company was founded in 1956 in the Swiss Laufenburg and is engaged in trade of gas and electricity. Today the company is based in Dietikon (near Zurich) and has subsidiaries in more than 20 countries in Europe.
According to BP, the total proven gas reserves of Iran amounted to 29.61 trillion cubic meters as for Jan. 1, 2009.
Giant gas consumers in Switzerland are households (40 percent), followed by industry (33 percent).
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