Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony on construction operation of Torbat-e Jam 16-inch gas transmission pipeline project, Javad Owji added that Iran and China have reached good agreements that will serve the two nations’ interests.

He also pointed to the trade between Iran and its neighboring states in the sector of oil products.

Touching upon the country’s sour gas production, the minister announced one billion cubic meters (bcm) have been produced in the current Iranian calendar year (starting March 21, 2022), hitting a record high.

During the yearlong period, Owji added, 1.8 bcm of oil products were produced and distributed and the daily production of natural gas witnessed an increase of 20 million cubic meters (mcm) when compared with that of its preceding year.

Asked about the progress in the project of Phase 11 of South Pars gas field, the minister said the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has done great planning since 18 months ago, regretting that nothing had been done in 20 years before that.

He expressed hope that SP Phase 11 will become operational within the next two months after relocating Platform C of Phase 12 and drilling a well in Phase 11.