Iran Starts Testing Gas Pipeline to Iraq

Production tests have commenced on 50 kilometers of the Iranian section of a pipeline built to carry natural gas from southern Iran to neighboring Iraq, according to Shana News.

Ali-Reza Gharibi, managing-director of Iran Gas Engineering and Development Company, said pigging is expected to be done on this stretch of the pipeline adding that the remaining 47 kilometers of the pipeline on Iran’s soil would be tested in the next phase. 

Iran is set to start pumping natural gas to Iraq before the end of the next month, Shana said

Gas exports to Baghdad will start with a daily volume of 4 mcm which could increase to 35 mcm/d.

A second gas deal is expected to be signed next year between the two nations. Post the six year deal Iran will start supplying 5mcm/d of gas to Basra. The deal require Iran to raise gas exports to Basra to 30 mcm/d, Shana added.

Gas delivery to Basra would come from Iran Gas Trunkline VI (IGAT 6) which transfers gas from the giant offshore South Pars gas field in southern Iran to the border province of Khuzestan.