Azizollah Ramezani, direction of international affairs of NIGC told Shana on the sidelines of the 21st Iran International Exhibition of Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals that the company has zeroed in on boosting natural gas exports to 15 countries in the coming years.

Iran is currently producing some 0.7 mcm/d of natural gas which is planned to nearly double by the end of the 6th five-year development plan to 2021, he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 21st Iran International Exhibition of Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals, Ramezani said currently Iran has gas deals with Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan for export and import of natural gas.

Besides, talks are under way with Afghanistan, Oman, Kuwait and other Persian Gulf littoral states for exporting natural gas, said the official. 

Moreover, NIGC also eyes exports to other countries including India, China and European countries through pipelines or LNG consignments. 

“We need more investments in order to gain a firm toehold in the LNG market and win more share in the international markets of the product,” he said.

Once new phases of the supergiant South Pars gas field come on-stream, Iran’s natural gas exports can cross 200 mcm/d which can raise to 350 mcm/d after a number of energy optimization projects come online in the coming years.