The Iranian Minister of Petroleum, Javad Owji, made the remarks on Thursday on the sidelines of inauguration of several natural gas projects in the province.

 Speaking with reporters Owji said: Today, 3 gas supply projects came on stream in Sistan-o-Baluchestan province along with 5 boosting gas pressure stations in other parts of the country.

There are several other gas projects underway in the province including providing natural gas to 140 villages and 13 towns through pipeline, some of them have made 90 percent progress, the Minister of Petroleum said.

He added that a gas pipeline from Iranshahr to Chabahar started operation to supply Chabahar power plant's gas needs and another gas pipeline, the first phase of Sarbisheh to Nehbandan pipeline, came on stream in order not only to reinforce gas pipeline network of the country in the east but to link 160 industrial units including 2 cement factories, to the cross-country gas network, ending burning oil products in the area as feed.

Before this, the province's access to the natural gas network was limited, but the National Iranian Oil Company (NIGC) efforts to expand the gas supply network have changed the situation very positively which will result in rising welfare and employment in the province, according to Owji.  

The Petroleum Ministry's commitment to implementation of the social responsibility projects in the province include millions of dollars, of which a fraction has been implemented so far, the Minister of Petroleum concluded.