Iran gives priority to neighboring countries for gas trade: Deputy oil min.
Iran's deputy oil minister for international affairs and trade says developing gas exports to neighboring countries is Iran's foremost priority, as it helps deepen Iran's relations with those countries.
Amir Hossein Zamaninia was quoted by Oil Ministry's official SHANA news agency as saying on Tuesday that boosting Iran's gas exports to regional countries will have great influence on Iran's political relations with those countries.
Mentioning Iraq as one of the customers of Iran's natural gas, the Iranian deputy oil minister said after the establishment of full security in Iraq, Iran will start exporting natural gas to its western neighbor.
The official noted that Iraq can be among major consumers of Iran's gas, noting that in addition to Iraq, “Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan will also need Iran's gas.”
Zamaninia stated that in order to gain its deserved position in global gas trade, Iran should first promote optimal consumption of gas inside the country.
“The culture for correct consumption of gas should be institutionalized in the country. At present, a large volume of gas is being wasted by dilapidated power plants or through ageing pipelines and household consumption,” he said.
Zamaninia’s comments echoed earlier remarks by Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh who said in early May that Iran's “top priority in gas sector is to meet domestic demand and export gas to neighboring countries at a reasonable price.”
Speaking in a meeting with the directors of German energy companies in Berlin, he also pointed to German companies' call for cooperation with Iranian energy companies, saying that the Iranian government is ready to support investors in oil and gas sector.
During past years Iran, which sits on the world’s largest gas reserves, has implemented plans to enhance production and export of natural gas by increasing foreign and domestic investment, especially in its South Pars gas field.
The country is currently exporting gas to Turkey and is set to start gas exports to Iraq in the near future.
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