Deal for export of Iranian gas to Iraq finalized

Tehran, May 6, IRNA – Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Ali Majedi said on Monday that the deal for export of gas to Iraq has been finalized. Majedi said laying pipeline to carry Iranian gas to Iraq has been worked out and negotiations with the Iraqi officials are under way to initiate export of Iranian gas to Iraq. He made the remarks citing Iran-Iraq-Syria deal for export of Iranian gas to Europe via Iraq, Syria and the Mediterranean Sea. He said that implementation of the project came to a halt due to lack of security in Syria for the Iranian technicians. Majedi said that if the situation in Syria comes to normal, the project will be implemented.” Iran and Iraq have signed an agreement for the construction of a pipeline that will carry Iranian natural gas to feed power plants in the Southern Iraqi province of Basra. The 56-inch pipeline originating from Assaluyeh, near the massive offshore South Pars Gas Field in Southern Iran, will continue into Iraq to feed three Iraqi power plants consuming gas. The pipeline will be designed in such a way that it will be able to deliver gas to other Muslim countries like Jordan, Syria and Lebanon in the future. Iran, which sits on the worldˈs second largest natural gas reserves after Russia, is making efforts to raise its gas output by more foreign and domestic investments, especially in the Southern Pars gas field. end