Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 17
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
The Islamic Republic exported about 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas during 2014, Azizollah Ramezani, director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) for International Affairs said.
Neighboring Turkey and Armenia were the main destinations of Iran's gas exports during the period, Ramezani said, the country's Mehr news agency reported Jan. 17.
He also added that the Islamic Republic imported 6.3 billion cubic meters of gas in 2014, adding the country's natural gas trade balance during the period is quite positive.
Ramezani said that Iran shares 1.5 percent of global gas trade.
The figure is projected to increase to 10 percent by 2026, the official said.
The EU is seeking to diversify its energy sources and replace it natural gas imports from Russia, Ramezani said, adding the Islamic Republic has the capacity to export 25-30 million cubic meters of gas per day to the EU.
He also said that the Islamic Republic will start gas export to Iraq by May 2015.
Iran has agreed to export 25 million cubic meters a day of gas to Iraq, but the gas delivery will start at seven million cubic meters per day.
The figure can reach to 70 million cubic meters per day in the future, Ramezani said.
It should be noted that Iran holds 33.6 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves, sharing 18 percent of total global gas reserves, which puts the country in the top of the world's gas holders list.
However, the lack of proper technology and investment led to long-term delays in implementation of gas production projects.
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