BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.25
Trend:
Iran could rely on oil sale and increase gas production for more export, said Iran's former oil minister Rostam Ghasemi, Trend reports via Mehr news Agency.
Ghasemi made the remark on the sidelines of the 25th Iran International Oil, Gas , Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition.
"We can't name the export destinations, but during my term as the oil minister, we've reached agreements with countries, and sold our oil to the public sector of these countries," he said.
"Iran was under the US, the EU and the United Nations sanctions in 2011 and 2012 but we exported about $160 billion that was a historical figure," he said.
"Some say the country's budget should be less reliant on oil export, however I think the oil revenues could be used for investment in necessary infrastructure," Ghasemi said.
He added that gas is one of Iran's biggest energy resources, and proper use of the South Pars gas field's production plays a major factor here.
"The domestic gas consumption should be reduced while the production should be increased and eventually exported," he said.