The President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov, will pay a working visit to Iran to participate in the opening ceremony of the Iranian "Hangeran-Sangbast" gas pipeline, Trend reports. This pipeline will be connected to the interstate pipeline network, an official Turkmen source reports.
This pipeline was built as part of the Turkmen "Dovletabat-Serakhs-Hangeran" gas pipeline, which was launched in January 2010. This is the second route for Turkmen gas supplies to Iran; another pipeline, "Korpeje-Kurt-Kui", became operational in 1996.
The project estimates that the operations of both pipelines will allow for an increase in annual supplies to Iran of up to 20 billion cubic meters of gas. The visit of the Turkmen president to Iran was discussed at a recent governmental meeting. Berdimuhammadov noted that the project will be a good example of successful policy based on principles of positive neutrality and mutually-beneficial cooperation.
The Iranian Petroleum Ministry reported in April 2010 that, by late 2010, daily imports of Turkmen gas will increase to 40 million cubic meters, compared to 32 million cubic meters. Specialists note that with the growth in demand it is also possible to increase the capacity of the western "Korpeje-Kurt-Kui" pipeline, as new promising fields have recently been found in its vicinity.
