Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran has refined over 158 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2014) till Jan. 6, Hassan Montazer Torbati, an official with the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) said.
The figure indicates increase by 16 billion cubic meters or 12 percent compared to the same period of the preceding year, Montazer Torbati said, the oil ministry's official SHANA news agency reported Jan. 7.
The Islamic Republic's gas exports during the period stood at eight billion cubic meters, 10 percent more year on year, the official said.
Montazer Torbati further forecasted that the household and commercial gas consumption will increase by 70 to 100 million cubic meters in daily basis from Jan. 8 due to temperature fall in the country's various cities.
He added that the NIGC has taken necessary measures to meet the demand increase.
"The country's refineries as well as gas transmission and distribution network are fully prepared to supply gas to various sectors," Montazer Torbati said.
Iran's household gas consumption stood at 52.1 billion cubic meters during the first nine months of current Iranian fiscal year (March 21-Dec. 21, 2014), which is 2.6 billion cubic meters less year on year.
The Islamic Republic faced severe gas shortages last winter.
In addition to cutting the gas supply to power plants, which led to burning of $30 billion worth liquid fuels, the Iranian government had to decrease gas delivery to petrochemical plants from 1,236 million to 530 million cubic feet. That caused a drop in the petrochemical production by 7.5 million metric tons during the last fiscal year (ended on March 21, 2014).
It should be noted that Iran holds 33.6 trillion cubic meters of proven 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, the lack of proper technology and investment led to long-term delays in implementation of gas production projects.
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