OREANDA-NEWS. February 27, 2010. Vagif Aliyev, the head of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan’s Investment Department, says that delivery of gas to Iran will start after completion of repairs at gas pipeline – compressor station on territory of Azerbaijan.

“First of all, we will supply swap volumes of gas designed for exchange within gas supply for Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan and deliver additional volume of 100 million cu m, he said.

The parties are also preparing a long-term contract for gas supplies that envisages additional development of gas transport infrastructure.

“Volumes of long-term supplies have not been accorded yet. As for planned works at gas pipeline Sangachal-Azerkend-Astara, they aim to rehabilitate the pipeline as it is not new. Presently speech is of replacement of 60-70 km of the pipeline. Theidea of construction of a new pipeline has not been specified,” Aliyev emphasized.

Earlier a range of SOCAR high-ranking officials announced laying of a new gas pipeline to Iran with capacity of up to 6-7 bn cu m a year.