Tehran, Aug 16, IRNA � Switzerland � that previously sought gas imports from Iran through its energy trading giant EGL � has reportedly changed plans and is now looking at Azerbaijan as a potential supplier of natural gas.

EGL had signed a 25-year deal with Iran for annual purchases of 5.5 billion cubic meters of gas. However, the deal never became effective due to a series of problems that emerged including technical hurdles as well as the US-engineered sanctions that stalled the project.
In 2012, Axpo became the owner of 100 percent of EGL�s shares. Subsequently, Axpo got a 5 percent stake in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, which is expected to start delivering Azerbaijan�s gas in 2020.
�Axpo has gas contracts with the Shah Deniz Consortium for the whole gas capacities required, that is why we currently do not need any gas from Iran,� Tobias Kistner, Axpo media spokesperson, has told Trend news agency.
�In the context of the TAP project, Axpo fully counts on gas from Azerbaijan.�
The official further emphasized that Axpo will nonetheless keep all option open for its future plans.
TAP envisages piping natural gas from Azerbaijan to Greece and Albania and thereon to Italy through the Adriatic Sea and further to Western Europe.
The project that was announced in 2003 by EGL is seen a part of the Southern Gas Corridor - an initiative of the European Commission for the gas supply from Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe, Press TV said.
It will start at the Greece-Turkey border where it will be connected with the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) that will bring gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey through Georgia.

By IRNA