In addition to Yıldız the inaugural ceremony was attended by Turkmen President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The 30-kilometer pipeline is the second new route tapping into the region’s vast gas resources to begin operating in the space of a month. While weakening Moscow’s grip over the region’s gas supplies, the new pipeline will also dampen Western hopes of claiming a share of Turkmen gas exports. Speaking at the ceremony, Berdymukhamedov said Turkmenistan attached great importance to safe energy transportation, adding that 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas would be sent to Iran annually through the newly built pipeline.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the route would have a global impact. “This pipeline will be a good stimulus for energy cooperation between Turkmenistan and Iran, as well as for the delivery of Turkmen gas to the Persian Gulf and the world market,” he said.
Last month, Turkmenistan agreed to resume natural gas supplies to Russia. Starting this month, Russia will buy 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Turkmenistan. Meanwhile, a major China-bound gas export pipeline went into operation in December.
