Tehran, Iran, July 25
By A. Shirazi - Trend:
The Iranian ambassador to Iraq said a project to transmit gas from Iran's southwestern port city of Khorramshahr to the Iraqi southern city of Basra is in its final stages, noting that the project would turn the Arab country into one of Iran’s major gas export destinations.
“The project to transfer Khorramshahr’s gas to Basra has been nearly finalized,” Iraj Masjedi said on July 25, IRIB news agency reported.
He added that the implementation of the plan would turn Iraq into one of Iran’s most important gas export destinations.
Iran will export 60 million cubic meters of gas to Iraq on a daily basis.
“Currently, 49 Iranian firms are involved in Iraq to develop technical and engineering projects worth $8 billion,” Masjedi said.
The projects are expected to address the Arab country’s needs in the fields of energy, bridge and dam construction, and residential buildings.
The envoy further noted that the Iranian private sector could play a key role in Iraq, saying, “We should not sit back and let the Chinese and Europeans establish foothold there."
Iran is currently exporting its gas to Iraq from the Naftshahr region in Kermanshah Province through a pipeline branching from the Sixth Iran Gas Trunkline (IGAT-6).
IGAT-6 is a major component of the national gas grid, which will have the capacity to transfer 110 million cubic meters of gas per day from South Pars Gas Field in the Persian Gulf to southern and western regions.
Iran produces more than 800 million cubic meters of gas per day, but exports a fraction to Turkey and Iraq. The country holds the world's largest gas reserves and is followed by Russia.