Confronted by the need to satisfy its winter peak demand for heating and electricity generation, Iran has decided to appeal to northern neighbor Turkmenistan for extra gas as well impose restrictions on gasoil distribution. On 10 November the Managing Director of National Iran Gas Company (NIGC) Javad Owji told ISNA that the state company has asked Turkmengaz to double its daily exports to Iran during the December 2012-February 2013 peak demand period to a maximum volume of 40mn cmd.

But this was this was denied on 14 November by the Minister of Petroleum Rostam Qasemi who told Mehr News that “currently we have no gas shortage even without importing gas from Turkmenistan,” adding that imports may be resumed if an agreement is reached. (CONTINUED - 279 WORDS)