Baku, Azerbaijan, June 12
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Construction of Iran-Oman gas pipeline needs two years, Alireza Kameli, managing director of the National Iranian Gas Exports Company (NIGEC), said.
Once the studies on the project are completed and the deal is signed, two years will be needed for construction of pipeline as well as compressor stations, he said, ISNA news agency reported June 12.
Kameli further said that the Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC) has been entrusted with studies to specify the route for building the seabed pipeline.
The IOEC has offered four paths for pipeline, which one of them is selected by Iranian and Omani parties, he added.
Kameli also said that seven foreign companies have expressed willingness to participate in the project, without unveiling the name of the companies.
Early in July Mohammad Akbarzadeh, the project's manager said that the Dutch Intecsea company has officially submitted a proposal to participate in the project.
He also said that the studies on the project have been completed by 22 percent.
Previously, South Korea's state-run Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS) and National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on constructing three major gas pipelines in the Islamic Republic including the Iran-Oman gas pipeline which experts say requires at least $1.5 billion-investment.
Based on an agreement signed between Tehran and Muscat in 2013, Iran will export 28 million cubic meters of gas to Oman per day via a sub-sea pipeline within 15 years.
Last September, after bilateral negotiations in Tehran, it was announced that the project will be operational by late 2017.