Russian gas supplies to Iran could begin as early as 2025

MOSCOW. April 25 (Interfax) - Russian gas supplies to Iran could begin as early as 2025, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev said following a meeting of the intergovernmental commission in Moscow.

At the initial stage, Russian gas supplies to Iran via existing infrastructure could be up to 1.8 billion cubic meters per year. Commercial operators from the two countries have not yet agreed on a price, and the exact date for the start of supplies has not been determined.

"I want to talk separately about the project that we agreed on at the last meeting in Tehran. This is gas supply from Russia to Iran via existing infrastructure. This is a big project [potential supplies are estimated at 55 bcm per year]. But the first phase of this project will be carried out this year, based on the existing infrastructure and gas supplies to Iran of up to 1.8 bcm," Tsivilev told journalists following the commission's meeting.

"The supplies should begin this year, as soon as they agree on the price. The companies are agreeing on a price with each other. We are not interfering in commercial relations between the companies. The companies are currently deciding on the optimal price," he said.

"It is not finalized yet. But we hope and we expect that some aspects will be finalized as soon as possible," Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad told reporters.