Deputy Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for Engineering and Development Affairs Gholam-Reza Manouchehri said gas and condensate recovery has started at 25 million cubic meters and 40,000 barrels per day, respectively from the phase. 

The startup coincided with the anniversary of nationalization of oil industry in Iran on March 19. 

The sour gas recovered from the phase is injected to the national gas distribution network after sweetening, he said. 

Manouchehri said operation of the phase has brought Iran’s gas condensate output to 690,000 barrels per day.

He also said that the total gas production from the gas field will reach 520 million cubic meters per day once production from SP19 is resumed and SP16 pipeline is ready for operation.

The official said inauguration of new South Pars projects means more natural gas will be supplied domestically and no imports will have to be made from Turkmenistan which halted its gas flow to northern Iranian provinces during winter.