Alireza Kameli described the latest status of gas exports to Iraq saying “Iran had agreed to undertake the project of pipeline construction to transfer gas to three Iraqi refineries though laying of the remaining part in the neighboring country has faced obstacles due to security issues.
Managing director of National Iranian Gas Exports Company (NIGEC) said the pipeline operation and hydrotests have been successfully accomplished in the Iranian side adding “it seems that in recent months the Iraqi side has also focused on completion of the project in its territory.”
The official underscored that Iran is prepared to implement the gas export operation as soon as the Iraqi side voices readiness for final connection of the gas export pipeline to Baghdad.
According to the contract agreement, Iran will export 35 million cubic meters of gas to Iraq per day during the first phase of the project to last for six years, which aims at meeting a major portion of Iraq's energy problems and electricity shortage.
The project of gas pipeline from Iran to Iraq is a 100 km long pipeline stretching from Charmaleh in Ilam Province to Naft-Shahr on the Iran-Iraq border.
Given the need felt by Iraqi power plants for natural gas, negotiations for exports of Iranian gas to the neighboring country began in 2009 though the gas sales contract was inked in the Iraqi capital in June 2012.
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