ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A consortium of European contractors installed facilities in Turkmenistan meant to collect natural gas from an Iranian pipeline system, partners said.
A 96-mile pipeline would carry 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Construction of the pipeline cost $180 million.
Iran will use the pipeline network to import natural gas from Turkmenistan. The Islamic republic is eager to expand its energy ties with its neighbors amid increasing pressure from economic sanctions.
German, Belgium and French companies announced the installation of $40 million worth of equipment near the coastal city of Esenguly to collect, prepare and transport gas via the pipeline, the online news Web site Turkmenitsan.ru reports.
The installations allow Turkmenistan to increase its export potential by more than 100 billion cubic feet of gas per year, the report adds.
The pipeline connects eastern Iran to the giant Dauletabad gas field in Turkmenistan. Dauletabad is the largest gas field in Turkmenistan with an estimated reserve capacity of more than 40 trillion cubic feet of gas.
