Explosion hits Iran-Turkey gas pipeline

ANKARA, Sep 29: An explosion at a pipeline between Iran and Turkey near the Iranian town of Bazargan has disrupted gas shipments and it was not clear if there were any casualties, an Energy Ministry official said today.

The official told Reuters the explosion, which occurred at around 10 pm 0030hrs IST today near a Turkish border crossing into Iran, was an act of sabotage carried out by Iranians. He did not specify who was responsible.

Turkish and Iranian Kurdish rebels operate in the mountainous region, particularly from bases in Iraq.

Iran is contracted to deliver 22 billion cubic metres of natural gas per day to Turkey.

Work had started immediately on the repairing the pipeline, said the official, who declined to be named.

''The problem is expected to be gone in three or four days, and (state natural gas company) Botas has forwarded the necessary information to Iran,'' the energy official said.

Flames from the fire caused by the blast could be seen in the Turkish town of Dogubayazit, the NTV/MSNBC Web site reported.

The energy official said he expected deliveries from Russia to increase to compensate for the loss through the Iranian pipeline.

An explosion hit the pipeline on the Turkish side in Agri province last month and authorities blamed it on sabotage by militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Violent clashes between rebels and security forces have increased over the past two years.

REUTERS