Islamic Iran to build gas pipeline to Iraq

Managing Director of Iran’s Gas Engineering and Development Company says the Islamic Republic is planning to build a gas pipeline to Iraq in order to export gas to its western neighbor.

“The 48-inch gas pipeline to Iraq, which will run for 220 kilometers, will be a branch of Iran’s sixth national gas pipeline,” Ali-Reza Gharibi said Friday.

He said that building the pipeline will begin as soon as a new gas deal is signed between Iran and Iraq.

“The 450-million-dollar project will be built by Iranian contractors,” Gharibi noted.

The Iranian official also added that upon completion the gas pipeline will carry a daily amount of 25 million cubic meters of Iranian natural gas to Iraq.

Iran ranks second in the world in natural gas resources after Russia with available gas reserves estimated at over 33 trillion cubic meters.

Iran has already signed contracts to export gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, and kerosene to Iraq, Afghanistan, a number of Persian Gulf littoral states, and East Asia.

The country exported about USD 9 billion in oil products including base gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, kerosene, and jet fuel to various countries during the first 10 months of the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 21, 2012).