Baku, Azerbaijan, June 24
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran plans to export consignments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe in the near future, said Alireza Kameli, the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Exports Company.
Iran has a long-term view on the European gas market, and the goal will be achieved through exporting LNG to Europe, Iran 's Mehr news agency quoted Kameli as saying June 24.
However, the priority will be placed on countries that are geographically near to Iran, he noted.
"Entering the European gas market via pipeline requires establishing at least 4,000 kilometers of pipeline, which is both costly and time consuming."
This is while Iran can export gas to the Gulf countries by establishing 200 kilometers of pipeline, he said.
In the fourth 5-Year National Develop Plan (2005-2009), Iran aimed to produce 70 million tons of LNG from the South Pars, North Pars, Ferdosi and Golshan gas fields by launching six LNG production facilities.
After cancelling Iran 's LNG project contracts with French Total, Spanish Repsol, Dutch-British Shell and Malaysian Petronas until 2008, Iran practically lost almost all opportunities in the LNG industry.
After that, in 2008, Iran signed a contract worth $25 billion to develop its gas fields and produce LNG with the Chinese SINOPEC group, Chinese CEPA, Polish state-owned gas company (PGNiG) and Malaysian Petrofield LNG Co.
The value of Iran 's contracts with PGNiG and Petrofield were respectively about $2 billion and $14-16 billion.
Iran also had a contract with Linde AG to build a giant LNG plant, but Linde refused to supply needed equipment due to sanctions.
All of the projects were canceled by 2012, even those which Iran signed with Chinese companies.
Edited by CN