Iran has revealed an ambitious plan to pipe natural gas to Europe thus indicating that it has brought back a plan – that had been previously shelved – on the agenda of its energy sector plans.
Director of International Affairs of National Iranian Gas Export Company Azizollah Ramazani has been quoted as saying that Iran is looking into the possibility of supplying natural gas to EU consumers through a pipeline that would pass through Southeast Europe toward the West.
“Our production capacity will increase to 1.2 billion cubic meters per day during next five years. So we have enough gas for export,” Ramazani said on the sidelines of 9th Southeast Europe Energy Dialogue.
The main gas in Iran comes from South Pars, the huge offshore field Iran shares with Qatar in Persian Gulf. But Iran has a lot of gas in addition to South Pars, Ramazani has been quoted as saying by New Europe. The official further added that the Islamic Republic needs foreign financing for exploration, production and transmission.
At the moment, a 40-inch pipeline, which runs for 2,577 kilometres, connects Tabriz in northwest Iran to Ankara in Turkey. “This 40-inch pipeline, according to Turkish delegation, has more capacity. So if we reach some agreement with European countries or Southeast European countries this pipeline which is connects Iran with Turkey, will be used as carrier of gas to Europe,” Ramazani said.
“It depends on the volume of gas. This pipeline will be used for a small amount of gas – maybe 1 or 2 bcm. But if you think about more gas we should think about new pipeline. And this new pipeline could be from Iran to Turkey or from Iran to Iraq and Turkey or from Iran to Mediterranean or Iran to the Black Sea and any other routes,” he added.
Iran is Turkey’s second supplier of gas after Russia, providing one-fifth of the country’s consumption.
Ramazani also said that Iran could be connected with Turkey’s Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) to export gas to Europe. “TANAP may be possible because it has also excess capacity. But we don’t have any negotiations with TANAP consortium for such a business,” he said.
Source Article from http://theiranproject.com/blog/2016/07/07/eu-gas-exports-irans-agenda/
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