Iranian gas officials have visited Azerbaijan to inspect the condition of the reservoirs. According to the Managing Director of the Iranian Gas Storage Company (IGSC) Masoud Samivand, Azerbaijan displayed good potential for the storage of gas.

In addition, Mr Samivand said "Due to the fact that in the present technical condition of the pipeline between Iran and Azerbaijan is poor, the Azerbaijani side has proposed to build a new gas pipeline."

Construction of a new pipeline would enable Iran to reserve its surplus natural gas in the Azeri reservoirs throughout the warm season, and recover up to 15 MMcm/d of natural gas from these reservoirs during the cold season.

Azerbaijan and Iran are currently connected by the Gazi – Mahammad – Astara – Bind – Biand gas pipeline, with a total length of 1,474.5 km. This route is a branch of Gazakh – Astara – Iran pipeline, which was commissioned in 1971.