Tehran, Iran, Oct.15
Trend:
Iran can export LNG to the neighboring countries such as Pakistan and other Asian countries but it needs strategy, said former secretary general of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum Mohammad Hossein Adeli.
" There should be a serious strategy for gas exports since the gas is mostly consumed domestically," Adeli said, Trend reports citing ILNA.
"If we have a strategy for exports, the neighboring countries are the first priority, and transferring gas to them via a pipeline would be faster, but I think Iran should think of exporting LNG to various markets including Asian countries," he indicated.
"Gas exports via pipeline has strong political dimension while LNG is more flexible and can pass through specific political bottlenecks and get sold," Adeli said.
"Creating pipeline has strong dimension and in current situation it's not possible but if Iran had LNG it could have exported it to neighbor countries such as Pakistan and then to Europe but it is waiting for pipeline to complete that is not allowed," he said.
"Currently Pakistan is the closest country to Iran, as far as pipeline exports go, but this pipeline hasn't been in operation for more than 20 years but if we had LNG we could have competition and sell it," Adeli said.
"Gas exports via pipeline is political since the origin country and destination should have good ties while the third country should not oppose the pipeline. Iran has no problem with Pakistan, but the US opposes the pipeline since it does not want Pakistan to depend on us," he said.
"It was expected that Iran establishes the pipeline through Pakistan-India route, but the political problem between India and Pakistan did not allow. On the other hand, with LNG, we can sell it via sea," he added.