Baku, Azerbaijan, May 14
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
An Iranian delegation arrived in Baghdad May 14 to discuss the details of Iran's gas export to Iraq, which is planed to start by June, said Hamidreza Araqi, managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC).
The delegation, which includes experts from Iran's Central Bank and the NIGC, will discuss financial issues, such as the procedure of receiving gas money, said Araqi, the Iranian Oil Ministry's SHANA news agency reported May 14.
Iraq expressed readiness to receive Iran's gas starting from June, the Iranian official said, adding that the last week the parties signed a deal annex, which extends the deal term to six years.
He added that based on the signed document Iran will export 35 million cubic meters of gas to Iraq per day.
It was earlier agreed that Iran would supply Iraq with seven million cubic meters of gas per day (mcm/d) in nine months, and after that period the volume would increase gradually and finally reach 25 mcm/d in two years.
Iran has stretched a pipeline to its Naftshahr city on the border with Iraq to supply natural gas to its neighbor.
Iran is yet to complete the 6th cross-country pipeline, with 110 mcm/d of gas transiting capacity, linking its South Pars gas field to Iraq's borders.