“We set an unprecedented record in gas production, and Iran
has been ranked first among the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) members in
terms of gas production increase; the average growth of the countries was equal
to 2.5%, and Iran ranked first with 5% gas production growth,” Oji said.
“In the South Pars joint field, we extract 75 to 100 million
cubic meters of gas more than the Qatari side,” he added.
The official noted that the oil ministry has signed deals
worth US$20 billion with major holdings to boost the recovery factor of the
giant field’s wells.
South
Pars gas field, which Iran shares with Qatar in the Persian Gulf, is estimated
to contain a significant amount of natural gas, accounting for about 8% of the
world’s reserves, and approximately 18 billion barrels of condensate.
The huge offshore field covers an area of 9,700 square
kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which are in Iran’s territorial waters
in the Persian Gulf. The remaining 6,000 square kilometers, called North Dome,
are situated in Qatar’s territorial waters.
Last
week Oji said that over the first three years of the 13th administration in
office, 150 oil industry projects, worth US$34 billion, have become active.
Speaking during the signing ceremony of developing two oil
fields on June 16, he commemorated the memory of late President Ebrahim Raisi,
noting that developing least developed regions of the country and creating jobs
for the people living in those areas was the top priority of the late
president.”
The majority of 153 projects that came to fruition were
projects that had been ignored before the 13th administration took office,
including South Pars gas field phase 11 which its development contract was
exchanged for 20 years between the related sides, but when the 13th
administration took office it decided to start its development which is now
complete and operational, the Minister of Petroleum said.
Oji added, the country managed to acquire good revenues by
implementing these kinds of projects in the oil, gas, refining, and
petrochemical sectors.
According to him, while the oil industry’s growth stood at
10% two years ago it reached 20% last year; the highest rate of growth among
all sectors of the economy.
The oil industry has 300 projects on the agenda of which 80
projects are new ones, he said adding total value of these projects reaches US$130
billion, some of them are now operational.
Referring to cooperation with Russia, he said a satisfactory
basis had been laid for expanding relations with Russia and we will hear good
news in this regard in the future.
The 13th administration so far has signed US$5 billion
dollars of oil contracts with Russian companies and 250 thousand barrels of oil
per day the country produces, comes from the contracts have been already signed
with Russian companies, Oji said.
The official also said that the United States can no longer
prevent the export and production of Iran's oil.
“With
the measures that have been taken in President Raisi's government in the field
of the oil industry, I should announce that any government that comes to power
in the US cannot prevent the export and production of Iranian oil,” Oji said
while speaking at a parliament open session on Wednesday morning.
In his remarks, Oji highlighted the efforts of the 13th
Iranian administration in improving the situation of the production and export
of oil.
