Azim Ibrohim said after meeting with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad that logistics and transportation routes are key to expanding energy cooperation between Tehran and Dushanbe.

About 800,000 metric tons of petroleum products are currently transported between the two countries, Ibrohim said, adding that the volume could increase significantly following Saturday’s talks and the launch of a joint working group.

“We will examine routes for transporting petroleum products,” he said. “The current infrastructure can handle this volume, but given plans to increase shipments, measures must be taken to expand transportation and logistics capacity.”

Ibrohim said Tajikistan will also hold talks with neighboring countries to secure the infrastructure needed for larger shipments.

“We will discuss the issue with our counterparts in neighboring countries and hope that, if imports of crude oil and petroleum products from Iran increase, we can provide the necessary infrastructure to transport these shipments,” he said.