Turkey"s Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Bekir Aksoy, who is touring Iran"s Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (Assalouyeh), told Irna," Turkey is expected to import around 10 billion cubic meters per year of gas from Iran starting in 2010. At present we are going to talk with Iranian oil officials on increasing the said figure."

He said his tour of Assalouyeh is aimed at reaching a better understanding of Iran"s oil and gas capacities.

Describing the volume of investment made in oil and gas sections in Assalouyeh as colossal, the official said Turkey is also considering the investment in Assalouyeh.

The official noted Turkey is ready to cooperate with Iran on the export of Iran"s gas to Europe, adding Turkey held talks on the issue with Romania, Bulgaria, Hungry and Austria.

He also expressed Turkey"s willingness to see Iran get a piece of the Nobuko pipeline, which is to transfer the gas of Russia and Central Asia to Europe through Turkish territory.

The official also invited Iranian firms to invest in construction of power plants in Turkey.