Iran to start gas export to Iraq in September

Iran will start gas exports to Iraq as of autumn with the initial capacity of 7 million cubic meters per day in the first phase, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi announced. Qassemi said following several months of negotiations the final gas export agreement would be signed on July 21 with the aim of carrying Iran’s gas to the neighboring country through Ilam border. Qassemi added that the second gas pipeline contract, which will transfer Iran’s gas to the neighboring country through Basra border, will also be finalized soon rising Iran’s total gas exports to Iraq to 50 mcm/d. Gas delivery to Iraq through the first pipeline crossing Ilam border will start by 7 mcm/d and will finally reach 25 million cubic meters to feed Baghdad and Al-mansoryeh power plants. National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Managing-Director Javad Oji had earlier said the 227-km gas pipeline has made progress by 95 percent, while its extension in Iraq territory has also made remarkable progress. Oji stated the second gas pipeline’s contract is expected to be signed by the end of the first half of the current Iranian calendar year to September 22. Iran and Iraq signed an initial contract for gas trade in June. Under the contract Iraq will import 25 mcm of gas per day from Iran to generate 2.5 thousand megawatts of electricity.