The Moscow Times, Russia
July 27 2005
Iran Focuses on Gas Exports to Ukraine
Reuters
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran is broadening its gas export strategy to
pipelines running to Europe via Ukraine, after encountering problems
in talks to pump gas across Turkey, a senior oil official said on
Tuesday.
Deputy Oil Minister Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian said Iran had reached a
preliminary agreement to export between 20 billion and 30 billion
cubic meters of natural gas per year to Ukraine.
“Ukraine has agreed to transit 20 billion cubic meters to Europe via
Ukraine,” he told state television. “After some problems with Turkey
to export Iran’s gas to Europe, this agreement will open Europe’s
doors to Iranian exports, which is very important to us,” he added.
His office was not immediately able to say when exports could start.
Nejad-Hosseinian said Iran and Ukraine had invited Armenia, Georgia
and Russia to collaborate in the pipe-building scheme.