MNA cited Mr Javad Oji deputy oil minister of Iran as saying that Pakistan has asked for importing more natural gas from Iran.

In June 2009, Tehran and Islamabad signed 25 year agreement based on which Iran agreed to export 7.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Pakistan per annum through pipeline. According to the agreement, the pumping of gas will start from February 2014.

Mr Oji said that “The new round of negotiations between the two countries over the subject of increasing the volume of gas exports to Pakistan is underway in Tehran.”

Islamabad has requested Tehran to increase the volume of gas exports from the current agreed amount of 21.5 million cubic meters per day to 30 million cubic meters per day. Iran sees no restriction to export more gas to Pakistan. He went on to said that the next round of the two countries’ negotiations will be held in Islamabad very soon.

Mr Hossein Bidarmaghz MD of National Iranian Gas Exporting Company expressed hope that Iran would be ready to start exporting gas to Pakistan from 2012. Construction of the gas pipeline in Iran’s territory will be finished next year.

He also denied reports that India has been omitted from negotiations on the gas pipeline project, adding that China is demanding to import Iran’s gas too.

(Sourced from Mehr News Agency)