Azerbaijan and Iran sign contract on gas supplies

Today in Baku, a commercial agreement was signed between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) on purchase of Azerbaijani natural gas.

The contract assumes deliveries of 100 million cubic meters of "blue fuel", or 1.2 million cubic meters per day, to Iran before April 1, 2010.

The top official of the SOCAR also reported that the parties henceforth will go on negotiating a long-term agreement on Azerbaijani gas deliveries to Iran.

In answer to the question why Iran needs gas import from Azerbaijan, the head of the Iranian delegation emphasized that in winter northern regions of Iran have increased demand for natural gas; therefore, it is reasonable to import it from neighbouring countries.

See earlier reports: "Azerbaijan starts exporting gas to Russia", "Nabucco treaty signed in Turkey", "Azerbaijan doubles gas prices for the population".