Hurriyet Daily News Online
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 03, 2009 14:14
Turkey says the ball is now on Iran's court with to finalize the planned cooperation deals in natural gas and to launch current projects in the South Pars region, Turkish energy minister said on Tuesday.
"We are waiting for the Iranian delegation to come as part of the ongoing talks with Iran. The state petroleum company TPAO conducted its studies and we also did. We sent (the studies) to the Iranian side and are waiting for their response," Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said at a news conference on the latest developments at TPAO.
Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in November to improve cooperation in the field of natural gas and to launch current projects in South Pars region. With the agreement, Turkey secures the operation rights of three gas fields in the region to produce some 46 million cubic meters per day.
The arrival of the delegation has been delayed, but Turkey is ready and would continue the negotiations when they arrive, Guler added.
The accord covers the development of three phases -- 22, 23 and 24 -- in the South Pars offshore gas field with Turkish investment, as well as the transfer of gas to Europe via Turkey. The accord envisages the joint construction of a 1,850-kilometer (1,200-mile) pipeline from the southern Gulf port of Assaluyeh, off which South Pars lies, to the Bazargan border area with Turkey in northwest Iran.
Turkey would take some part of this gas, Guler said, but declined to give the exact amount. He added however that the amount would be enough to compensate earlier gas cuts.
Turkey, heavily dependent on foreign energy supplies, has faced shortage risks posed mainly by Iran's decision to cut the flow of natural gas to Turkey in previous years.
