As this project is completed, gas supply becomes more stable in the cities of Baneh, Saqez, Sardasht and Boukan. Although western Iran is mostly mountainous and there are numerous rivers and obstacles, this pipeline is progressing.

Mehdi Bazargani, IGAT-9 project manager, speaks with "Iran Petroleum" about the project.

Would you please tell us about IGAT-9 projects?

IGAT-9 projects are among the prioritized and important projects operated by National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC). This trunkline stretches from Bidboland to the Bazargan border. Construction of Dehgolan-Miandoab section, which is 230km long, is over. Gas was fed into the final 55km section in January. The rest is also ready for gas injection. The Bidboland-Ahvaz part which is 98 kilometers long is still under construction.

Would you please tell us about future projects?

Four projects, totally 400 kilometers long, extending from Ahvaz to Kuhdasht are envisaged. They are in fact the next phase of IGAT-9 to complete the Bidboland-Kuhdasht section.

In addition to IGAT-9, what other projects do you have under way?

A 56-inch project connecting sites 1 and 2 of Assaluyeh has been fed with gas and is in its final stages. It will become fully operational after the installation of launcher and receiver. A 40-inch ethane project has been also inaugurated. It earned the country high value-added. The pace and quality of work there constitute the outstanding features of the project.

What advantages do the 20-inch and 30-inch Bidboland-Gachsaran pipes create?

This pipeline will supply gas to the Behbahan power plant, Behbahan cement factory, as well as the Gachsaran petrochemical plant. Supplying gas to the Gachsaran petrochemical plant is of vital significance for the plant managers. We are making efforts to finish the project according to schedule by next March.

What conditions does the Bidboland-Ahvaz pipeline lie in?

About 30 km of this pipeline extending as far as Mahshahr is prioritized. It is expected to receive gas by November. Construction of the rest of the pipeline, 68 kilometers long, would be over by next July.

Would you please explain about the steps and toughness of job?

IGAT-9 in western Iran and Khuzestan Province is faced with many impediments. In the West Corridor, from Dehgolan to Miandoab, we were faced with steep mountains and hard land which made it difficult and time-consuming to work. However, we made every effort to increase resource, machinery, equipment and working shifts in order to overcome these obstacles. When the projects were under way in Kurdestan, we had tough time, particularly last winter when the temperature was unprecedented in 20 years.

In addition to mountains, what other natural obstacles were you faced with?

There were many of them. We had 45 instances of cutting through paved road and five cases of cutting through permanent rivers. For instance, it was very difficult to cross the Qezel Uzan River, which is 320 meters wide.

How about land obstacles?

In Kurdestan and West Azarbaijan Provinces, we crossed highly valued pieces of land. Settlement of related issues for the land acquisition group was difficult and time-taking. It was our first experience in full assignment of land acquisition affairs to contractor, which grew into a successful model to be extended to other projects. Another problem with land acquisition was our challenge between natural resources and obstacles about the land being national or not. All these obstacles caused hardship to us, but none of them could harm our colleagues’ firm determination and the projects are coming online even ahead of schedule. The second section of the Dehgolan-Miandoab pipe became operational several months ahead of schedule, despite the pipe supply problem. Land acquisition is not limited to the Kurdestan area. In the existing and future projects in Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Lorestan, we will be faced with similar obstacles. We will keep crossing obstacles to future projects by cutting through Maroun and Karoun rivers. For all of them, we have made necessary planning and arrangements.

Anything else you want to add in conclusion?

One of the major problems to IGAT-9 is shortage of human resources required in the construction, installation and engineering sectors. Due to the seriousness of this issue, we hope that relevant authorities would cooperate with us to overcome this problem and we would be able to pursue the activities of this project particularly in the regulatory section with more precision and motivation and the company would experience a good jump in this strategic pipeline.