Mehr News Agency reported that Iran and Turkey signed MoU in Tehran on October 28th 2009 to broaden ties in the field of gas industry.

As per report, Mr Masoud Mirkazemi oil minister of Iran and Mr Taner Yildiz energy and natural resources minister of Turkey signed the MOU.

Transferring Iranian gas to Europe via Turkey, boosting the presence of Turkish firms in Iran's petrochemical sector and developing Iran's gas fields were among the MOU items.

Mr Mirkazemi said in the signing ceremony that grounds are prepared for the expansion of energy ties between the 2 states. He expressed the hope that the MOU would come into effect within the next 4 months. He said that referring to the 1 month deadline which has been given by Iran to Turkish Petroleum Corporation to finalize the deal to develop phases 22, 23 and 24 of Iran's South Pars gas field.

Iran and TPAO signed an agreement in 2008 based on which the Turkish side undertook to produce 20.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from three development phases of Iran's South Pars gas field but the deal has been delayed.

Mr Taner Yildiz for his part lauded Iran's achievements in the energy sector, saying his country sees the huge oil and gas reserves of Iran as a welcome opportunity to broaden relations with its neighboring country.

(Sourced from Mehr News Agency)