Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 27/Trend A. Qurbanova/
Due to Turkey's delay in reconstruction a damaged gas pipeline, the National Iranian Gas Company demanded compensation from BOTAŞ Petroleum Pipeline Corporation, Mehr News Agency reported.
Iran has suspended gas exports to Turkey Thursday night due to a request by BOTAŞ Petroleum Pipeline Corporation. It is predicted that exports will resume at least in the next 48 hours.
By suspension of Iran's gas exports to Turkey, Ankara increased its export of gas from Russia's Gasprom and Azerbaijan's Soukar Company.
Iran 's export of gas to Turkey was suspended in mid August due to an explosion in the pipeline. Tehran and Ankara signed a contract in 1996 to annually export 10 billion cubic meter of gas from Iran for 25 years.
Iran exported 6.8 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey in the last solar year, which ended on March 20, 2011. It is forecasted to increase exports to up to 10 billion cubic meters. While construction of the third and fourth parts of Iran's sixth general pipeline continue, transfers of 90 million cubic meters of gas will be made per day to Turkey and other countries.