Statistics from Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority indicate that Iran’s gas exports to Turkey in September and October 2024 increased elevenfold compared to the same period last year.
This surge in gas exports to Turkey occurs as Iran faces a significant domestic gas shortage since the start of autumn, severely restricting fuel supply to industries, agriculture, and power plants.
Details from Turkey’s monthly energy statistics show that Iran delivered a total of 5.58 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey in the first ten months of 2024, marking a 41% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
According to the latest statistics published on the organization’s website, Iran exported no gas to Turkey in September 2023, but over 510 million cubic meters in September 2024. In October 2024, Iran exported over 866 million cubic meters of gas to Turkey, seven times more than October 2023.
In total, between September 1 and October 31, 2024, Iran sold 1.38 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey, more than 10.5 times the volume for the same period last year.
Iran also exports gas to Iraq, but neither country has released data on the volume delivered so far.
Iran also has a gas-for-electricity swap agreement with Armenia, wherein it receives 3 kilowatt-hours of electricity for each cubic meter of gas delivered.
Official statistics from Armenia’s customs indicate that Iran increased its gas deliveries to the country by 23% in the first half of 2024. During this period, Iran delivered over 226 million cubic meters of gas to Armenia, valued at $38 million.
Statistics from BP and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) show that Iran exported approximately 14 billion cubic meters of gas in 2023. However, no estimates for Iran’s total gas exports in 2024 have been released yet.
The Iranian regime has set a target of exporting 16 billion cubic meters of gas in the draft budget for the upcoming Persian calendar year (starting in March).
The goal to increase gas exports comes despite the country’s significant gas imbalance. On Wednesday, January 1, Iran’s regime Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad stated that under the Seventh Development Plan law, daily gas production needs to reach 1.38 billion cubic meters.
Achieving this production level was also targeted in the Sixth Development Plan but was not realized.
During peak winter consumption, Iran produces gas at its full capacity of 850 million cubic meters per day but still faces a deficit of 300 million cubic meters. On average, Iran’s daily gas production throughout the year is approximately 730 million cubic meters.
Paknejad stated that achieving the Seventh Development Plan’s goals requires $45 billion in investment, most of which must be allocated to developing gas fields and related infrastructure.
