Tehran, YJC. Official says Iran is hopeful to start selling gas to Iraq next year, Iranian calendar.
Deputy Oil Minister Hamid Reza Araqi in interview with Mehr
news agency stated that Iran is finalizing its pipeline and facilities which
are to carry gas from the country to Iraq.
It is expected that in the early next year, starting March, Iran
will start sending gas to the neighbor country, he stated, adding "Right now we
are at the final stages of the production, installation, and operation of the
pipeline and other conveyance facilities that are to be used do export natural
gas to Iraq.”
Araqi, who is also the Director of the Iranian National Gas Company
explained that the gas so exported is meant to answer to need of the Iraqi capital
Baghdad as well as the country’s power plants.
He also maintained that the export is planned to increase in
stages.
"Based on the arrangements, next year it is agreed on 5 to 6
million m3 of gas to be exported to Iraq,” he noted.
He added that the maximum volume of gas to be exported is 25
million m3 in the first stage which will increase as facilities are launched
inside the Iraqi soil.
He had earlier stated that the second and third stages of the
contract will take much time since 300 km of pipeline has to be stretched and
the related facilities constructed.