Iran could start exporting natural gas to Iraq in May if security conditions improve, a senior official said on Monday.
“In case security is established in Iraq, Iran’s gas exports to Baghdad are projected to start in May,” said Ali-Reza Kameli, head of the National Iranian Gas Exports Company.
As part of an agreement the two countries signed in 2013, Tehran would start exporting gas to Iraq to feed three power plants in Baghdad and Diyala.
Completion of the pipeline, which has been delayed due to security concerns in Iraq, would initially allow delivery of 4mn cubic metres of gas per day (mcm/d) to Iraq and that could rise to 35 mcm/d, Iranian oil ministry website Shana said.
The scheduled start of gas exports to Iraq would be delayed because of fighting, Iran said in September.
Iran, which has enormous gas reserves, exports small quantities to Turkey, but for its own domestic consumption it partially relies on imports from neighbouring states.
The northern part of the country, for instance, rely heavily on gas imports from Turkmenistan.
