Tehran, Iran, January 19
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
Countries such as Kuwait and the UAE are going to be new markets for Iranian gas as Iran prioritizes export to regional countries in the post-sanctions era, CEO of the National Iranian Gas Export Company Alireza Kameli said.
Also, Iran is going to export 65 million cubic meters of gas to Iraq per day, which will increase in the warm season, he said, Mehr news agency reported January 18.
Iran will be exporting 30 million cubic meters of gas to Baghdad province and 35 million Kameli said, speaking about Iran's sixth cross-country pipeline, which is to connect to two pipelines in Iraq (one to Baghdad, second to Basra).
Kameli said Iraq has the facilities ready and the only major problem to inaugurate them is related to security issues.
Speaking of Pakistan, the official said that despite this country's lack of commitment regarding the completion of the Peace Pipeline, 780 kilometers of which fall within the country's soil, Iran is not going to sue the country, preferring friendly relations.
Iran and Pakistan signed a gas agreement, according to which Pakistan was set to import 22 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) of natural gas from Iran through the Peace Pipeline as of 2015. However, Pakistan has not yet managed to establish its section of the pipeline. The pipeline is to carry 21.5 million cubic meters of gas per day to Iran's neighbor.
Commenting on Iran gas export to Turkey, Kameli said that until the current lawsuit filed by Turkey against Iran receives a court ruling, Iran will not hold any negotiations with Turkey to boost the export.
Turkey has field a lawsuit against Iran in International Arbitration Court, accusing its eastern neighbor on selling gas at high price and delivering low volume. Iran has obligation to export about 10 bcm/y of gas to Turkey.
Further on, Kameli spoke about the Iran-Oman underwater gas pipeline, saying it will be completed in 1.5 years. The agreement on this pipeline was signed two years ago. Iran will export 28 million cubic meters of natural gas per day to Oman - part of it will be consumed by the country, while the rest will be turned into LNG and exported on behalf of Iran.
Commenting on Iran-India talks, he said Iran will hold negotiations with Indian customers in near future.
A 1,300-km pipeline is going to be stretched by Indian companies to carry the gas to the south-Asian country, he noted.
Iran is producing about 700 mcm/d of gas, while the country has planned to increase this volume to 1,300 mcm/d by 2020.