Iran Starts Negotiations to Export Natural Gas to Europe: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is in a good position to meet the growing gas needs of the European Union and has started its talks in this regard, the secretary general of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) said.
"Iran and the European Union have already engaged in negotiation that involved several options for the export (of gas) to the European Union," Sputnik News quoted Seyed Mohammad Hossein Adeli as telling reporters on Friday.
Iran could partially meet the growing EU energy demands both through pipeline supplies and liquefied natural gas deliveries, he added.
Adeli said the demand for natural gas in Europe is set to increase after 2020, with European gas imports to double by 2040.
His remarks came one day after Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Amir Hossein Zamaninia said international sanctions imposed on Iran's oil and gas sector are expected to be lifted in October or November.
According to BP's Statistical Review of World Energy, overall natural gas proved reserves at the end of 2014 stood at 34 trillion cubic meters in Iran, giving it the first rank in the world above Russia.
Oil and gas talks between Tehran and the EU are coming as part of a new wave of renewed interest in Iran after Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 reached a conclusion over the text of a comprehensive 159-page deal on Tehran's nuclear program.
The comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the six powers would terminate all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran after coming into force.
Experts believe that Iran's economic growth would rise remarkably after the final nuclear deal takes effect.
