Iran and Georgia have temporarily stopped talks about Tbilisi’s plans to purchase 200mcm of Iranian gas due to high prices, Trend News Agency reported.

According to initial plans, Georgia was to import Iranian gas through the territory of Azerbaijan. However, as Georgian Deputy Energy Minister, Mariam Valishvili, revealed earlier in February, buying Iranian gas at this stage was not commercially viable for Georgia as it was about 25% more expensive, informed Georgia Today. Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister, Kakha Kaladze, said that the initial project to transport gas via Azerbaijan or Armenia would be postponed.

In addition, Alireza Kameli, the Head of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC), said that Iran would consider implementing the project within the next seven months under a long-term agreement, if Georgia finds a short-term gas deal economically unsatisfactory.

Iran is seeking solutions to this bilateral cooperation in light of its plans to increase overall gas production to 1.1bcm/d by 2018.