Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran has supplied over 40 billion cubic meters of gas to power plants during the first nine months of current fiscal year (March 21-Dec. 21), Hamid Reza Araqi, managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company(NIGC) said.
Araqi said that the figure increased by 9 billion cubic meters, or 29 percent compared to the same months of the preceding year, the oil ministry's official SHANA news agency reported Dec. 23.
Iran has averagely supplied over 90 million cubic meters of gas per day to power plants during the 9th Iranian calendar month (Nov.22-Dec. 21), the official said, adding the figure is three time more compared to the same period of the previous year.
He said that the NIGC is projected to supply 42 billion cubic meters of the gas to power plants in the current fiscal year (to end on March 21, 2015).
The figure stood at 36 billion cubic meters (some 100 million cubic meters per day) last year.
Iran's oil ministry seeks to decrease liquid fuel consumption in the country by boosting gas consumption.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh previously said that by increasing Iran's total gas output especially from joint fields, the country's liquid fuel consumption in the industrial units and power plants will be reduced.
Saeed Motasadi, deputy head of the country's Environment Protection Organization, said Dec. 21 that Iran will halt providing its thermal power plants with liquid fuel as of next fiscal year.
Gas shortage forced Iran to burn 28 billion liters of diesel oil and mazut in power plants last year.
It should be noted that the Islamic Republic holds 33.6 trillion cubic meters of proved gas reserves, sharing 18 percent of total global gas reserves which puts the country in the top of the world's gas holders list.
However, a lack of proper technology and investment led to long-term delays in implementation of gas production projects.