Iran is apparently in talks with authorities in Kuwait and the UAE to export its natural gas, as it seeks to rebuild its economic ties with the GCC in the post-sanctions era, according to Iran’s official Mehr News Agency.
Alireza Kameli, managing director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) has revealed that Iran has begun negotiations with some Emirati companies.
“We have made some talks with the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Kuwait, to export gas through pipelines,” Kameli said, without elaborating.
The Islamic Republic is having a ‘new round of gas negotiations’ with Kuwait, he revealed, adding that ‘two scenarios’ were being considered for exporting gas.
“One of the routes for transporting Iranian gas to Kuwait crosses the Basra region (in Iraq), which enables Iran to connect its gas network to Kuwait by constructing a short pipeline,” he said.
“Iran’s gas can also be transferred to Kuwait via the sea” from the Ganaveh port on the Gulf, he said in reference to the second transport route.
Pointing to Kuwait’s ‘request to buy a high volume’ of Iranian natural gas, Kameli said the details of the contract will be announced after the finalisation of negotiations.
The Kuwaiti oil minister had earlier said that one of the policies of his country’s energy industry would be importing gas from Iran in order to supply power plants.
