Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

Attraction of investments for the transit of Iranian gas to Tajikistan can be a turning point in improving economic relations between the two countries.

This was stated by the Iranian parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, on the sidelines of the 10th plenary meeting of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), Iranian media outlets reported.

Larijani told Vice-Speaker of the Tajikistan’s Parliament Khairiniso Yusufi that investments could be attracted, in particular, for electricity generation and water transfer from Tajikistan to Iran and sending gas from the Islamic Republic to the countries of Central Asia.

Commenting on the high scale of Iranian companies’ presence on the Tajik market and assistance in improving the economy of this country, he said that the relations between Iran and Tajikistan can be strengthened taking into account the commonality between the two states.

The APA meeting began in Istanbul on November 21 and will end today, on November 24. The meeting is devoted to the theme of maintaining peace and development in Asia. The ninth APA meeting was held in Cambodia in November 2016.

Iran has vast energy resources — the world’s largest proven natural gas reserves and the second-largest trove of oil in the Persian Gulf, according to BP.

Iran's proven gas reserves amount to 33.5 trillion cubic meters of gas. However, the country lacks necessary export infrastructure to realize gas sales. Under sanctions, Iran was banned from the global financial system, preventing the development of its oil and gas fields and necessary infrastructure.

Iran’s gross gas output stands at 285bn m3/yr. The country plans to increase this volume to about 440 bcm/y by 2021 after full operational of South Pars and starting gas production from other projects like Kish gas field.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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