Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 8
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Turkey has filed a complaint against Iran about unfavorable situation of importing Iranian gas, the Mehr News Agency reported.
The complaint tells about uncertain gas supply security as well as high price of Iranian gas, Mehr quoted Iranian deputy oil minister Hamidreza Araqi as saying.
According to gas contract between Iran and Turkey some 10 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas should be exported to Turkey in a year, but the amount has been below 9 billion cubic meters during recent years.
Turkey filed a similar complaint against Iran in the past, but the international court ruled in favor of Iran, Araqi said.
However, the National Iranian Gas Company has provided documented evidence about its gas export deal with Turkey and is confident about its transparency, he explained.
The international court will issue its verdict in 3-4 months. Iran will be fully committed to the final verdict, he noted.
Under an agreement between Tehran and Ankara, the Islamic Republic should export up to 30 million cubic meters of gas daily to its northwestern neighbour.
In 1996, Iran and Turkey signed a 25 year agreement to supply 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey annually.
Iran plans to increase its gas transfer capacity to Turkey and European countries up to 50 million cubic meters per day.
Former Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Javad Owji said on December 30 that the country's gas exports to Turkey have hit a new record high, exceeding 31 million cubic meters (mcm).