IRAN GAS PRODUCTION TO UP 40M CUBIC METERS/DAY
IranMania News, Iran
Oct 18 2005
LONDON, October 18 (IranMania) – Iran?s natural gas production will
increase by 40 mln cubic meters to reach 420 mln cubic meters a day
this winter, said a senior gas industry official.
According to ILNA, Abdolhossein Samari, the National Iranian Gas
Company?s project manager, told reporters that Iran imported 5.8 bln
cubic meters of gas last year, when it exported 315 bln cubic meters.
Rejecting reports that gas exports will impede proper distribution
nationwide, the official said Iran is ready to import up to 40 mln
cubic meters per day of gas from Turkmenistan to meet a possible
shortage of supply in winter.
?However, the Turkmen side has not yet announced its readiness to
export this amount of gas to Iran,? he said, criticizing the National
Iranian Gas Company?s failure to construct adequate underground
gas storages.
He said lack of proper storage facilities will prevent the company
from ensuring adequate supplies at times of consumption peak.
He, however, said gas supply network is doing well, adding that gas
produced in the southern region of Asalouyeh reaches consumers across
the country within just 40 hours.
Samari said the gas swap agreement with Azerbaijan will enter the
executive phase as of next month, noting that as per the contract,
Iran will import Azeri gas and then export the same amount to
Nakhichivan. He put the swap fee at 15%.
On gas export agreement with Armenia, the official said exports could
increase from 1.1 to 2.3 mln cubic meters.
Iran holds the world?s largest gas reserves second only to Russia.
Twenty two phases of the giant project to develop the world?s largest
offshore gas field, South Pars, which holds almost eight % of the
global gas reserves, will become operational by 2012.
The multi-phased project is a top priority on the national development
agenda.
The field straddles Iranian (South Pars) and Qatari (North Field)
sectors of the Persian Gulf, and Iran?s share is being developed in
28 phases.