Addressing a ceremony to officially launch phases 13 and 22-24 of the major joint gas field, that was held in the presence of the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the southern city of Assaluyeh on Sunday, Mr. Zangeneh said the first South Pars development contract was struck back in 1997, and until August 2005, only 5 phases of the field were completed.

Between 2005 and 2013, the 5 unfinished phases were completed, he added, saying that in the period from 2013 to 2018, Phase 12 came online in 2014, phases 15 and 16 were completed by 2015, in early 2017, 6 phases became productive and today 4 other phase have come on-stream. “This brings the total number of South Pars refineries which became operational during the period to 15.”

He said plans were under way to bring online three more South Pars phases by mid-2019 which would include phases 13, 14 and 22-24.

The official further added that Iran’s gas production capacity stood at 622 mcm/d back in 2013 which is currently at 841 mcm/d and was expected to reach 880 mcm/d next calendar year (which begins on March 21) and 950 mcm/d by 2020.

The Iranian Minister of Petroleum added that gas production from South Pars stood at an average of 610 mcm/d while production capacity was 660 mcm/d from the joint gas fields.