“An 11%
increase in gas exports to Turkey and the continuation of negotiations to
increase exports, the collection of about US$1.6 billion of Iran's gas
dues from Iraq, and a 138% increase in gas swaps are among other measures taken
to promote energy diplomacy in the 13th government,” Majid Chegeni said on
Sunday.
Speaking at a ceremony for inaugurating several gas projects
on the occasion of Government Week, Chegeni noted that over the past year Iran
has reached a new record in gas condensate exports and the country has been
established as a major player in the region’s gas market.
According
to the official, the Islamic Republic’s natural gas refining capacity has also
reached 1.030 billion cubic meters in the past 12 months and 530 kilometers of
new gas pipelines have also been constructed to transfer fuel to seven power
plants.
Operating the largest natural gas network in West Asia, NIGC
continues to expand this network into the country’s most remote areas so that
currently over 95 percent of the Iranian population enjoys natural gas through
this huge network.
With a
total length of over 36,000 kilometers, Iran’s gas network is also among the
world’s most modern networks and it enjoys the most modern and updated measuring,
transmission, and pressure boosting instruments and equipment.
This vast network of pipelines is growing bigger and bigger
every year as NIGC tries to increase the coverage of the national network to
nearly 100 percent.
According to NIGC data, Iran is currently producing over 810
mcm of natural gas daily which is mostly used within the country by the
domestic sectors as well as fuel for the power plants. A small portion is also
exported to neighboring countries like Iraq and Turkey.
