TEHRAN– Deputy Prime Minister of Russia for Construction and Regional Policy Alexander Novak has announced that gas export to Afghanistan and Pakistan can be carried out by means of a gas swap with Iran.
Novak told TASS news agency, “If we talk about perspective, this includes exports of gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan – either using the infrastructure projects of Central Asia or through a swap from the territory of Iran.”
“That is, we will receive their gas in the south of the country, and in exchange we will supply gas to the north for Iranian consumers,” the deputy prime minister noted.
He also said earlier that Russia and Iran may reach an agreement on swap supplies of oil and gas by the end of this year.
“We expect around 5mn tons of oil per year and up to 10bn cubic meters of gas at the first stage,” Novak added.
The Russian official also declared that Moscow is holding talks with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to increase gas supply for the two countries’ markets.
According to Novak, the gas supply from Russia to China can reach 100 billion cubic meters per annum and Moscow can also increase the volume through Turkiye.
Mikhail Galuzin, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, told TASS that Astana and Tashkent are ready to pursue a joint venture with Russia in terms of establishing a gas union.