Iran is currently negotiating with European companies, including international operator of tankers for transportation of LNG Golar LNG.
MOSCOW, 27 Jan. Iran is actively seeking new opportunities in the extraction and export of natural gas, including the development of gas liquefaction capacity to supply to Europe in two years, writes the Wall Street Journal.
Iran discovers a number of opportunities to provide “the country’s entry into international club suppliers of liquefied gas”, said in an interview with the managing Director of the National company for gas export of Iran (NIGEC) Alireza Cameli.
The first possibility involves the resumption of operations at the LNG facilities of Iran. Before sanctions were imposed in 2012, work on this project has been completed 40%, at the moment, a full recovery will take another three to four years.
Cameli said that Iran is in talks with European companies, including international operator of tankers for transportation of LNG Golar LNG, the construction of an LNG infrastructure. For this project “will require less than two years,” said Cameli.
Once the LNG equipment is ready, “deliveries to Europe will definitely be considered,” he added. NIGEC plans to invest in gas infrastructure and systems implementation product: plants and pipelines.
Iran also says gas supply to its neighbours in the Persian Gulf, Kuwait, and the UAE, without significant reserves, and where you can hold short line lengths. One of the possible markets in the region – Saudi Arabia, a staunch political opponent of Iran. Saudi Arabia is trying to switch from oil to another energy resource, but at today’s prices to produce LNG for it would be too expensive, the newspaper notes. “Saudi Arabia is a major potential buyer. They have no other choice but to go on rapprochement with Iran,” said Cameli.
Cameli previously announced that Iran plans to supply Oman with about 28 million cubic meters of gas per day, with 25-30% of this amount will be processed at LNG plants of Oman for export. We study the project of construction of the offshore pipeline from Iran to Oman. The annual volume of gas supplies through the pipeline will be 10 billion cubic meters.
