Iran inaugurates underground gas storage facility

Oji said the volume of gas stored in Serajeh underground gas storage facility has now mounted to 350 million cubic meters. In an interview with the oil ministry's website, Oji said storing gas at the facility has already started adding currently 3.5 million cubic meters of gas is being injected to the underground facility on a daily basis which will rise to 7 million cm/d step by step. "Four million cm/d of gas is expected to be withdrawn from the facility in winter to be injected into the national grid," Oji added. He noted that the NIGC is waiting to hear from presidential office about proper time for participation of president in the ceremony. Since several years ago, the NIGC has started examination of storing gas in underground facilities, including Serajeh underground facility, near Qom City. Injecting gas into Serajeh facility has started since October and continued without any interruption except a short period in winter which was the result of rising gas consumption due to cold snap. The NIGC managing director said the volume of gas storage in Serajeh facility will hit 1.5 billion cubic meters up to the end of current Iranian calendar year (ending on March 20, 2013). Under the fifth five year development plan's regulations, the NIGC should boost the country's gas storage capacity to 14 billion cubic meters up to 2015.