TEHRAN - Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Ahmad Asadzadeh has called on the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to collaborate on developing energy infrastructure in order to expand ties, Shana reported on Saturday.

Speaking at the Russian Energy Week International Forum (REW) in Moscow, Asadzadeh presented some proposals such as the formation of energy consortia, the creation of a joint investment fund, etc., to strengthen the strategic ties among the countries of this region.

The official, who visited Moscow to attend the four-day event, underlined the necessity of strengthening EAEU’s Energy Secretariat for the promotion of energy projects in the countries of this region.

On the sidelines of the forum, Asadzadeh held bilateral meetings with Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov, head of Gazprom Neft Company and some energy ministers and company representatives attending REW.

Iran, Russia negotiating joint LNG production, exports

While in Russia, in an interview with Sputnik, the deputy oil minister announced negotiations with some Russian private companies to cooperate for the production of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in Iran in low volumes.

“We are also very interested in working in the field of LNG,” he said, adding “We provide facilities, land, and cheap feed to investors in the LNG sector so that they can produce this product according to the conditions of the global market; this is a unique opportunity, and Iran declares its readiness to provide the necessary facilities to Russian investors in this field.”

Iran able to deliver Russian gas to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iraq

The official also told Sputnik that the Islamic Republic is ready and able to deliver Russia’s gas to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq, and other countries as part of the swap deal.

"Negotiations have taken place, the parties have exchanged agreements, there are only some problems related to the implementation, which will soon be resolved, and, I hope, we will be able to receive gas from Russia through the northern part of our country. Then this gas can be sent in swap supplies to other countries in the region, for example, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq, and can also go to the south of Iran for export to the Persian Gulf countries that need gas, and to the east of the country, to countries such as Pakistan and others," Asadzadeh said.

According to Moscow, the swap supplies deal with Iran can cover five million tons of oil and up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

Tehran expects that Moscow will reach an agreement with Turkmenistan to transit gas to Iran in swap supply, in which case the swap deliveries will start by the end of 2022, according to Asadzadeh.

In July, Russian energy giant Gazprom and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation worth $40 billion. The accord suggested the possibility of interaction on the development of Iranian fields, the implementation of LNG projects, and the construction of gas pipelines.

EF/MA