Iran Expects to Triple Gas Exports, Sees LNG as Preferential Option

While an increasing number of countries are voicing their interest to cooperate with Iran in the energy sector, Teheran said it expects to triple gas exports, explaining that it will give priority to LNG and a pipeline to Pakistan. 

“By launching the Save and Export project, some 50 to 60 mcm will be economized” Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Hamid-Reza Araqi said on Tuesday, as reported by Shana, the news agency linked to Iran’s Oil Ministry. 

Araqi added that Iran has the potential to increase its daily gas exports from the existing 80 million cubic meters daily to 300 mcm, not explaining how long this will take.  

“After sanctions are lifted, it will be possible to lay the TAPI gas pipeline from Iran,” Araqi added.

During the Iranian Petroleum and Energy Club 2015 Congress and Exhibition (IPEC 2015), Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh also explained that LNG will be the preferential option for Iran’s gas exports.  

“LNG is Iran’s policy for the far-reaching markets. Gasline export has a number of problems and in addition to (pipe laying for) long distances, huge sums of money will be spent on the transit,” Zangeneh explained.  

In September, Zangeneh said that Iran and Spain are discussing LNG cooperation.

The conference, the formal adoption of the nuclear agreement, and the coming presentation of Iran’s new oil contracts in November and December is drawing much attention on the country. 

Shana reported that Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak are scheduled to meet to discuss expansion of bilateral relations in oil and gas industry and the latest developments in the global crude oil markets.

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