Afghanistan Interested in Importing Iranian Gas

Afghanistan has shown interest in importing natural gas from Iran, some senior Afghan officials have told Iranian energy officials.

"The two countries' officials have held talks on export of Iran's gas to Afghanistan, but it has not been finalized yet," International Affairs Director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Azizollah Ramezani said on Tuesday, reported Fars News Agency.

Iran plans to export 80 billion cubic meters (bcm) of its natural gas annually to the Asian and European countries by 2025. The country exported over 10 bcm of gas in 2014.

Earlier this month, Iranian and Afghan officials called for enhancement of all-out ties, especially in the energy sector.

According to Fars News Agency, in a meeting between Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International and Trade Amirhossein Zamaninia and Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar in Tehran last year, the two sides stressed that expansion of bilateral economic cooperation will pave the ground for restoration of security in the region.