Talking to IRNA, Mohsen Khojastehmehr added the development of Phase 11 had been suspended due to unspecified reasons, recalling that a contract was signed with an international company in the mid-2010s to develop it, but it quit citing sanctions.

Iran, however, has not tied its progress to the revival of nuclear deal and removal of sanctions, stressed the official.

NIOC in the 13th (Raeisi) administration resumed the development operations by Iranian companies while it was earlier believed that only foreign experts could do the job, boasted the CEO.

“In early autumn last year, we decided to drill four wells in Phase 11 and start early production,” said Khojastehmehr, continuing that the drilling operations of the four wells have been now completed and undersea pipelines have been installed.

Like other standard phases, the development of South Pars Phase 11 is aimed at producing 56 million cubic meters per day, explained the NIOC chief, adding the project needs a $5.7 billion investment.

Elaborating on significant measures the incumbent government has so far carried out, he said, “First, we managed to implement the project of sweetening gas condensates of Phase 2 and Phase 3, helping sweeten 80,000 barrels of gas condensates per day for exportation.

“Second, the refinery of South Pars Phase 14, whose development of completion have been the greatest achievement of the 13th administration, became operational. Eight big Iranian contractors helped develop Phase 14, having a 70 percent share in building the refinery while domestic share in the early 2000s was less than 30 percent. The main equipment including compressors and boilers in the refinery of South Pars Phase 14 is homegrown.

“Third, the development and production of Phase 11, Iran’s last phase in the joint field, has been accelerated, as a pipeline transferring gas condensates from Site 2 to Site 1 has been built that speeds up the transfer.

“Fourth, two units of Be’sat Combined Cycle Power Plant, with each having a 160 MW capacity, came on stream, which not only meet domestic need, but also supply the national gas grid with its surplus electricity.

“Fifth, we started drilling Balal, a joint gas field in South Pars, and the first drilling operation showed the exploratory well containing gas. When other wells are completed, 14 million cubic meters of gas will be produced daily.

“And sixth, the workover of seven wells in South Pars Phase 13 halted in 2015 resumed.”

Khojastehmehr also pointed to a contract signed to develop the first phase of developing Kish Gas Field, adding the project is aimed at bringing the field online in 14 months.