Turkmenistan doubles gas exports to Iran

Turkmenistan is a major gas producer in Central Asia, producing over 75 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas a year.

With an annual demand of 50 bcm, Russia is currently the leading export destination for Turkmenistan's gas.

In a bid to ease its dependence on Moscow's demand, Ashgabat is planning to increase its exports to Iran by 12 bcm a year, Reuters reported.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymuhhamedov has invited his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend the launch of the new link in December, state news agency Turkmen Khabarlary reported on Thursday.

The Iranian president's official Web site on Thursday announced that Berdymuhammedov and Ahmadinejad held a telephone conversation on Thursday, during which they called for expansion of bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries.

Should the new gas pipeline come online, Turkmenistan's gas export to Iran will reach 20 bcm a year.