Iran ready to tackle Europe's gas demand, official says

PanARMENIAN.Net - An official from Iran’s International Relations of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) has announced the country’s willingness to launch gas talks with EU, expressing the country’s readiness to supply European countries with natural gas, Mehr news agency reports.

Managing Director for the NIGC Azizollah Ramezani welcomed the idea of the European Union officials travelling to Iran for reinvigorating mutual relations in the sectors of energy and natural gas, stating that “Iran, with the largest gas reserves in the world, is well-placed to sell gas to all countries.”

Ramezani stressed that gas exports should not be merely limited to neighboring countries or the region asserting that “supplying gas to far-reached countries, particularly EU-member countries needs to be put on the agenda.”

The official further stressed that gas exports to Europe bring about international and political advantages in addition to economic achievements. “Currently, Russia is selling gas to Europe via a 3000-kilometer pipeline; so can Iran,” he said, according to Mehr.

The NIGC director said Iranian gas can be supplied to Europe through the Black Sea, Syria, Iraq, Turkey or several pipelines.

European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete had stated yesterday that in February 2016, the European Commission will accomplish the first technical assessment mission aiming to investigate venues for gas cooperation with Iran.

According to the official, one of the objectives of the Europe Commission is to make efforts to promote the export of Iranian gas via pipeline and LNG shipments within the framework of the project called the European Union's Southern Gas Corridor.