Iran is considering exporting gas to Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and is even eying the US market, the deputy head of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said Sunday.
Speaking at the Third International Petrochemicals Seminar, the official said that another plan called for exports of Iranian gas to Europe, for which studies were finalized in 1999, reported the official Iranian news agency IRNA.
He said the “Iran Gas Europe,” which is a Brussels-based consortium, had also approved the final report.
He added that the studies focused on financial, legal, economic and technical aspects of gas exports to Europe, considering two alternatives: a pipeline or liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
He said plans were underway to export gas to Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), adding that in 1996, Iran signed a contract to export some 10 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/yr) of natural gas to Turkey.
The transfer will start with 3 bcm/yr in July 2001, gradually increasing to 10 bcm/yr, he added.
“There are similar plans to export gas to Armenia," he said.
Iran also plans to supply LNG to India, the Far East, and even the US, he noted.
Iran has more than 18 percent of the world's total gas reserves, second only to Russia.
The country has some 26.31 trillion cubic meters of natural gas on land and at sea – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
