Tehran, Iran, Jun. 11
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iran's gas storage capacity currently stands at 8 billion cubic meters, Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported on June 11.
Along with that, Iran's Natural Gas Storage Company's Managing Director Masoud Samivand said on June 11 that the country's oil minister has ordered construction of 20 mini-LNG units.
"Currently some 10 million cubic meters of gas can be extracted from Sarajeh gas storage facility," he said, adding that the figure will be raised by 5 million cubic meters in near future.
"Currently over 7 million cubic meters of gas per day is being pumped into the facility," he said, adding that some 13-15 million cubic meters of gas can be extracted from Sarajeh gas storage facility during winter.
"Some 10-15 million cubic meters of gas can also be extracted from Shoorijeh gas storage facility in winter," Samivand noted.
Iran plans to increase its gas storage capacity by the end of the current Iranian calendar year, which started on March 21.
Iranian oil minister has ordered the related bodies to do their best to achieve the goal, Iran's IRIB News Agency reported on April 20.
Currently, only Sarajeh gas storage facility is active in Iran.
Samivand said on May 20 that the Sarajeh gas storage facility pumped over 662 million cubic meters of gas to the national gas network in winter.
"Currently 375 million cubic meters of gas is being stored in the facility," he said.
"The country save some $350 million by storing gas in the facility and pumping it to the national gas network in the cold months," Samivand explained.
Shoorijeh gas storage facility is expected to come on stream by the end of year.
The Shoorijeh gas storage facility, located at the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi, has the capacity to store 4.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Iran will store extracted gas from the joint gas fields, especially the giant South Pars field, in the facility.
Once the facility comes on stream Iran becomes one of the world's top five countries in terms of gas storage facilities.
The United States of America with 121 billion cubic meters ranks first in the list. Iran currently stands at the 19th place.