First VP calls south pars development as government priority

Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri underscored that Tehran attaches great importance to the development of the different phases of its gigantic South Pars gas field. "The development of the South Pars phases is among the government's priorities and we make our utmost efforts to this end," Jahangiri told reporters in the Southern city of Assalouyeh on Monday morning. He said that the oil ministry is determined to launch the different phases of the South Pars as soon as possible. Jahangiri accompanied by Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and other officials visited the different phases of the South Pars gas filed to be informed of their development. Earlier this month, Namdar Zanganeh said that the oil ministry plans to boost the country's gas production before winter through completion of several projects in various phases of the South Pars gas field. He said that the majority of the units related to the prioritized phases of South Pars, including phases 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18, will start production this year (started March 21), through which the country's gas production will be increased by 100 million cubic meters per day. The oil minister emphasized that all the aforesaid units must start production before winter. The South Pars gas field, divided into 28 phases, is located in the Persian Gulf on the common border between Iran and Qatar. The field is estimated to hold 14 trillion cubic meters of gas as well as 18 billion barrels of condensates. The field covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which lie in Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. The remaining 6,000 square kilometers, better known as the North Dome, are located in Qatar's territorial waters.