Tehran, Dushanbe agree on long-term oil supply, fuel export deal
Iran and Tajikistan have agreed on the framework of a long-term deal to export oil products and supply crude oil to Tajikistan's refineries, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said on Saturday.
Speaking at a meeting with Tajik Energy and Water Resources Minister Daler Juma and Transport Minister Aziz Ibrahim, Paknejad said the framework for a long-term agreement between the two countries had been finalized, IRNA reported.
"This was the third in-person meeting with Tajik officials over the past two years," Paknejad said, adding that "the bulk of the negotiations focused on the possibility of exporting our surplus oil products to help resolve some of the energy problems of our friend and brother Tajikistan."
"It was agreed that a technical working group would examine the technical and logistical details of the cooperation, with the basis of the work being a long-term contract to supply both fuel and the crude oil needed by Tajikistan's refineries," he said.
Paknejad said most of the previous agreements between the two countries were also now being implemented and operational.
"This agreement can resolve this country's fuel problems amid the global energy crisis and increase the volume of trade between the two countries beyond 800,000 tons," he said.
Juma said Dushanbe's main goal was to increase imports of fuel products from Tehran, adding that the oil sector was one of the biggest areas of potential bilateral cooperation amid the global energy crisis.
After meeting with Paknejad, Ibrahim said about 800,000 tons of oil products were currently being transported between Iran and Tajikistan, adding that the volume could increase significantly following the talks and the launch of the joint working group.
"To this end, we will examine ways to transport oil products. There is currently the capacity to transport this volume, but given the plans to increase the volume, the necessary measures must be taken to expand transport and logistics capacity," he said.
Ibrahim said plans were being made to increase the volume of oil products and crude oil transported between Tehran and Dushanbe, adding that further talks would be held soon on increasing the volume.
He also highlighted the importance of logistics in expanding energy cooperation between the two countries, according to Mehr news agency.
"One of the fundamental issues in this regard is logistics and the routes for transporting oil products," Ibrahim said.
He said talks would be held with neighboring countries to provide the necessary infrastructure.