Iran, Oman Hold LNG Talks

Iranian and Omani officials on Sunday discussed plans to export Iranian LNG via Oman.

Bijan Zangeneh, Iran’s petroleum minister met with Omani counterpart Mohmmed bin Hamad Al Rumhi, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

“Top on the agenda of the talks was ways of using Oman's unused LNG facilities,” Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Exports Company (NIGEC) Alireza Kameli said.

Rumhi arrived in Tehran on Saturday to take part in Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) meeting.

Iran and Oman in 2013 signed a deal under which Tehran will export 28 mcm/d of gas to its neighbour through a subsea pipeline for 15 years.

Iran wants to convert part of the gas it would supply to Oman into LNG for exports to Asian markets. Currently 25 percent of Oman’s LNG production capacity is lying idle.

In September, Tehran and Muscat signed contracts related to study of pipeline that will carry Iranian gas into Oman. The study on the maritime section was handed over to Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC), and its contract was signed by Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Exports Company and Director General for Planning and Projects Evaluations of the Omani Ministry of Oil and Gas Saif bin Hamad al-Salmani.

The study on the land section was assigned to Pars Consulting Engineers (PCE).