Iran will have launched several major phases of the huge South Pars gas field project in the Persian Gulf by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2017).
Speaking in a local gathering last week, Managing Director of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Ali Kardor added once the 17, 18, 20 and 21 phases of South Pars came on stream, Iran’s gas production would catch up Qatar.
He added the amount of the country’s gas production has increased tremendously in the past three years.
Kardor reiterated that the full development of South Pars gas field would play a pivotal role in increasing the value of hydrocarbon products, strengthening the downstream industries, producing raw materials which are needed in the industry, exporting high-value-added products in the international market and creating new job opportunities.
He said the remaining phases of South Pars Gas field would go on stream within the next two years.
Iran has over 20 projects in South Pars. More than a dozen phases have come into stream; several will be fully developed soon.
The huge offshore field covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which are in Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf.
The remaining 6,000 square kilometers are situated in Qatar’s territorial waters.
