Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 2
By Dalga Khatinoglu - Trend:
Iran and Italian Saipem company would construct a cross-country pipeline, linking giant South Pars to Turkey's borders, a potential route to deliver Iranian gas to Europe.
"Memorandum of understanding between the sides has been signed to construct 9th cross-country pipeline," Shana quoted the Managing Director of National Iranian Gas Company Hamidreza Araqi as saying on Feb.2.
Saipem and Iran signed a 3.5 billion euro ($3.79 billion) MoU with Iran, during President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Italy in Jan.25.
Iran is producing 420 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) of gas from South Pars, locates in southern regions, while the production level is projected to surpass 700 mcm/d by late 2018.
The 9th cross-country gas pipeline is projected to transfer 100 mcm/d of gas towards the north-western borders. The 1,863-kilometers long pipeline has 17 pressure booster stations. The total cost of this project is expected to reach $6 billion.
Iran has a contract with Turkey to supply 27 mcm/d of gas, but transferring the country's gas through Turkey to Europe is the final goal of 9th cross-country pipeline.
The potential route for the delivery of Iranian gas to Turkey and Europe is still uncertain, however, the EU plans to receive Azerbaijani gas via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), designed to be connected to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP).