BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
The Ministry of Electricity of Iraq owes more than $5 billion to the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) for gas importing from Iran, Trend reports citing the NIGC’s website.
According to the report, about $3 billion of this money has been frozen by the Trade Bank of Iraq and is unused.
“More than $2 billion worth of debt has not yet been identified and paid by the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity,” the report said.
In addition, the Iraqi side owes the National Iranian Gas Company more than $1 billion under the agreement as fines, the report said.
According to the report, Iran's main goal in exporting gas to Iraq is to make a profit. And this money should be spent on food and medicine.
The NIDC has warned the Iraq side several times under the agreement. As no steps have been taken, it has reduced gas exports under the contract,” the report said.
In recent days, the spokesman of the Ministry of Electricity of Iraq, Ahmad Mousa said that Iran had reduced its gas exports to Iraq from 50 million cubic meters to 5 million cubic meters per day for two weeks.
Mousa noted that Iran intends to reduce gas exports to Iraq to 3 million cubic meters daily.