However, as the current pipeline between the two countries was connected to Iran’s domestic natural gas network, gas flow might drop, depending on weather conditions and natural gas consumption, Mr Noorani said. “A new pipeline dedicated to shipments to Turkey will be installed soon,” Mr Noorani went on, “so that the gas flow will not be affected from sudden changes in Iran’s domestic market.”
Turkey and Iran signed a gas-supply agreement in August, 1996, allowing Turkey to purchase 10bn cum/yr from Iran for 25 years. As Iran subsequently failed to supply gas to Turkey, Russia’s Gazprom has filled the energy gap by increasing its daily output to Turkey.