TEHRAN (FNA)- Ankara has started talks with Iran for the construction of Iran–Turkey–Europe Natural Gas Pipeline Project (ITE) to convey the gas supplies to Europe through Turkey, media reports said.
The pipeline project is being considered by Turkey as international sanctions against Iran’s energy sector are shrinking following the implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, the Turkish paper Today Zaman reported on Sunday.
For transit passage of natural gas sourced in Iran through Turkey, the Iranian Oil Ministry and the Energy and Natural Sources Ministry of the Republic of Turkey signed an "Agreement Protocol" on November 17, 2008.
The protocol also provides for Turkey to be able to procure its natural gas requirement from the pipeline under the project, if required.
The total length of the pipeline under the project is about 5,000 km. The length of the pipeline within the East and Western borders of Turkey is about 1,750 km. The target annual amount of gas to be conveyed to Europe under this project is determined as 35 billion m3.
Turkey's part of the ITE Natural Gas Pipeline Project will be from the Turkey– Iran border to the Ipsala/Edirne Greece border, passing through Agri, Erzurum, Erzincan, Gumushane, Sivas, Yozgat, Kirsehir, Kirikkale, Ankara, Eskisehir, Bilecik, Kutahya, Bursa, Balikesir, Canakkale and Tekirdag.
The pipe diameter under the project is 56 inches and its operating pressure is 92 bars. Its proposed service life is 40 years.
Iran owns the world’s largest natural gas reserves after Russia, and is also Turkey’s second biggest gas supplier after Russia.
Iran’s natural gas is of crucial importance to Turkey as the energy-hungry country uses a significant portion of imported Iranian gas to generate electricity.