BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 16
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
The share of Iran in gas trade in the region and the world is less than 2 percent, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said, Trend reports citing the ministry.
The minister said that however, Iran stands second in the world for gas reserves, with 33 trillion cubic meters of gas.
Owji added that in the gas sector, revenues can be generated not only through gas exports, but also through a number of other ways, such as imports, swaps and transit.
"For example, Russia has the largest gas reserves in the world. In addition to gas exports, it imports, swaps and transits gas. Based on this, one of Iran's programs is to focus on the potential in the energy sector, especially in the gas sector, the markets of the region, including the markets of Qatar and Turkmenistan,” he noted.
According to the minister, given Iran's potential in gas sector, increasing Iran's share in gas trade is one of the government's main goals.
Owji stressed that consumption of gas and oil products in Iran is four times higher than the world average. Accordingly, Iran should attract investment in the production and processing sector, as well as Iran should focus on reducing energy consumption.
“Iran consumed 225 billion cubic meters of gas over the last Iranian year (March 20, 2020 through March 20, 2021). Of this, 130 billion cubic meters were consumed by industrial and power plants, while 55 billion cubic meters by housing. If the standard program for gas consumption in Iran is implemented, gas it can be reduced by 25-30 percent. Thus, it will be possible to save about 60-70 billion cubic meters of gas,” he said.
There are currently 74 oil and 22 gas fields in Iran. So, 37 oil fields are operating in the territory of the National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC), 14 fields – Iranian Central Oil Fields Company (ICOFC), 5 fields – Arvandan Oil and Gas Company (AOGC), and 18 oil fields – Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC).
In addition, 5 gas fields are operating in the territory of the NISOC, 13 fields – the ICOFC, 1 field – Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC), and 3 gas fields – the IOOC.
Iran’s total hydrocarbon reserves are estimated at 836 billion barrels. With available technology and equipment, Iran can extract 239 billion barrels. Thus, 29 percent of the country's hydrocarbon reserves are recoverable, while 71 percent remain underground.
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