Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the weekly cabinet session, the minister added the gathered APG will be processed at the Persian Gulf Bidboland Gas Refinery.

The APG collection from East Karoun fields, namely Maroun, Gachsaran, Aghajari, and Rag-e Sefid, is top on the agenda, underlined the minister, reiterating associated gas of 21 flares out of total 52 of this region will be gathered and transmitted to the refinery by next March.

Pointing to the official inauguration of the Persian Gulf Hoveyzeh gas refining project in the presence of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi, Owji said associated gas of West Karoun fields will be also gathered.

The volume of this region’s APG will be almost equal to that of one phase of the South Pars gas field, estimated the minister, adding 20 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) will be added to the country’s gas grid.

Elaborating on the next stages, he said petrochemical complexes will be provided with processed associated gas, as feedstock, and ethane will be extracted and used for the completion of the value chain.

Having a refining capacity of two billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d), the Persian Gulf Bidboland Gas Refinery has a spare capacity of 500-600 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d), mentioned Owji, adding some contracts on APG transmission have been already signed and they have so far witnessed a 53 percent progress.

He described flare gas collection as a great feat for the incumbent administration, saying APG is a national asset, which can create added value and its collection will help reduce the amount of air pollution.