Official: Iran Ready to Export Natural Gas to Neighbors, Europe

Caretaker of the Iranian Oil Ministry Mohammad Aliabadi underlined Iran’s preparedness to supply natural gas to the neighboring countries and the European market.
Addressing a ceremony held in Southern Iran on Monday to mark endorsement of a tripartite multi-billion-dollar pipeline project for transferring Iran’s gas to Iraq and Syria, Aliabadi said that the pipeline will further strengthen the ties among the three neighboring countries.

“The three countries of Iran, Iraq and Syria have always been brothers and friends, and export of Iran’s gas to Iraq and Syria is no doubt very important in deepening the relations among the three countries,” Aliabadi reiterated.

As regards future exports of natural gas to Europe through the same pipeline, the Iranian official noted that both Iraq and Syria have licensed Iran to transit gas to Lebanon, the Mediterranean region and Europe.

“Iran has no problem for selling gas to the European countries and right now a number of European investors are in talks with us over investment, marketing and sales of Iranian gas,” the minister stated.

According to the Iranian officials, Iran produces 600 million cubic meters of gas per day, 37 million cubic meters of which are exported.

Once the transfer through Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline is done Syria will purchase 20 to 25 million cubic meters of Iran’s gas on a daily basis.

By launching the South Pars Gas Field in future, the Islamic Republic will be capable of producing 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas and exporting 200 to 250 million cubic meters of it to the world states on a daily basis.