Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the cabinet weekly meeting, Javad Owji added the NGL 3100 plant in Dehloran, the western province of Ilam, will be put into operation in the presence of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi within two months.

The associated gases of the oil fields in western Iran were burnt off in flares in the past years, regretted the oil minister, adding all flare gases in Ilam and Kermanshah provinces – 250 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) – will be captured when the APG collection projects for western Iran are completed.

Nearly 7 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas will be injected into the national grid per day when the NGL 3100 plant becomes operational, said Owji, explaining one million tons of ethane will be carried to petrochemical complexes in southern Iran through a constructed pipeline with the aim of providing the plants with feedstock and turning associated gases into products with added value.

He also said the oil and gas industry witnessed the highest economic growth – over 20 percent – in the previous Iranian calendar year, pledging the semifinished projects will be completed this year.

Joint fields

Under the 13th administration, oil and gas extraction from joint fields has increased by around 75,000 barrels and 50 mcm per day respectively, said Owji.

Top priority has been given to oil and gas production in joint fields, underlined the top official, continuing contracts for the development of all shared offshore and onshore fields have been signed.

IP gas pipeline project

 “According to the contract on Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, the two countries have some obligations,” said Owji, pointing out Iran has fulfilled its obligations.

“We have held constructive talks with the Pakistani party and Islamabad is willing to finish building the pipeline on its side,” said the oil minister, expressing hope the project on Pakistan’s soil will be carried out and Iran’s gas will be exported to the neighboring country.

Last week, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson reacted to recent remarks by U.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu on her country’s joint gas pipeline project with Iran.

Islamabad has remained committed to implementing the gas project in accordance with the spirit of the bilateral agreement with Tehran, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

Pakistan does not need to consult others or be exempted from sanctions but wants to go ahead with the project of transferring gas from the Islamic Republic of Iran, she said, referring to Lu’s warning that “Washington has not received any request from Islamabad regarding sanctions relief and therefore the efforts to stop Pakistan from Iran's gas project will continue”.