Iran’s gas export plans gain momentum
IranMania, Iran
June 19 2005
Sunday, June 19, 2005 – ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, June 19 (IranMania) – Managing Director of National Iranian
Gas Exports Company has said that several companies have completed
feasibility studies to transfer gas from Iran to Europe, Iran Daily
reported.
Roknoddin Javadi said companies from Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania,
Slovenia and Austria each had a 20% share in completing the feasibility
studies of the project to pump gas produced in Iranian refineries to
Europe’s main grid via Turkey.
He said Iran is also considering gas export to the UAE and Oman.
“The Indians are also a potential customer for 2.5 mln tons of
liquefied natural gas (LNG) from us which if finalized will begin as
of 2011,” Fars news agency further quoted him as saying.
Iran, which holds some 15% of the world’s natural gas reserves, is
trying to increase exports of gas to neighboring states in the hope
of picking up sales to Asia and Europe in the future.
“In the short term, we are looking to export gas to neighboring
countries, but we are also working on exports of liquefied natural gas
(LNG) to markets in Asia and Europe,” said Javadi.
“The issue is that the projects to export gas to neighbors, such as
those in the Persian Gulf, can be completed in two years. But an LNG
export project needs five years.”
Javadi said Iran was also in talks with Kuwait and the UAE for two
contracts, hoping to export 1.5 bln cubic meters to the two countries
each year. Contracts are also expected with Armenia and other former
Soviet republics in the Caucasus, covering the sale of three blon
cubic meters annually.
South Pars gas field, which is set to increase Iran’s gas exports,
straddles the maritime border between Qatar and Iran in the Persian
Gulf.
It is estimated to contain around 14.2 trln cubic meters of gas, equal
to seven percent of the world’s total proven reserves and roughly 50%
of the national gas deposits.
Iran’s gas reserves, estimated at 812 trln cubic feet account for 15.8%
of the world’s proven gas reserves are second only to those of Russia.
–Boundary_(ID_SNBgDIGY94wmhmUoAFGJlA)–