Managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Hamidreza Araqi has said the company plans either to build or complete up to 11 gas pipeline projects.
Araqi said the company will also try to develop gas supply infrastructures to facilitate gas distribution at home and pave the way for more gas exports.
The official noted that while gas production capacity is on the rise in Iran, gas processing capacity will be doubled in the next three years and the country will need to build the necessary infrastructures for processing, transfer and distribution of natural gas.
“Boosting gas export capacity and setting up new pipelines and the related facilities for transferring gas are among the main targets of NIGC over the next five years,” Araqi said.
He noted that gas supply services will cover an additional 3 million households in cities and rural areas over the sixth economic development plan of the country.
“In order to achieve its targets, NIGC needs to boost the number of gas refining companies from 13 to 19, the number of boosting gas pressure stations from 71 to 90 and expand gas supply network from 35 to 40 thousand km,” Araqi noted.
Currently 63 million or 84 percent of Iranians have access to natural gas services which is scheduled to reach 71 million or 94.5 percent of the population in next three years.
Press Release, September 17, 2014; Image: NIGC