Iran plans to export natural gas to Europe: deputy minister

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Ali Majedi says the country intends to boost natural gas exports to energy-hungry countries, including the European states, according to semi-official Fars news agency.

"There have been no new talks on gas exports to Europe, but there are routes and facilities which we need to use," Majedi said, adding the country is now pumping gas to Iraq and Turkey.

"Iran started gas exports to Iraq with 7 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d). The volume is scheduled to rise to 25 mcm. Iran began gas pumping to Turkey in 2002," the Iranian official was quoted by Farsnews as saying.

He also noted that the country is swapping its gas with Armenian electricity, and has started gas swap with Azerbaijan too.

"We are seeking gas exports to Europe via other paths," Majedi further added.

Iran's South Pars gas field covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which are in Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. The remaining 6,000 square kilometers, i.e. the North Dome, are in Qatar's territorial waters.

The South Pars gas field holds 8 percent of total gas reserves of the world and half of the country's proven gas reserves as well as is the host of the most important industrial complexes of the country and the most important part of oil industry's value chain.