Iran to export natural gas to Iraq by mid-2013

Iran will provide Iraq with natural gas by next year's summer, an official in the Iranian energy sector has announced. According to Iranian news agency (Fars), Head of the National Iranian Gas Company Javad Oji said Iran has completed more than 25 percent of a pipeline to Iraq that could carry up to 25 million cubic meters per day of its natural gas to Iraq. "Currently more than 25 percent of this 48-inch gas transmission pipe has been completed," Oji said, adding that Iranian contractors would help build the Iraqi section of the pipeline. Oji said gas extracted from Iran's offshore South Pars gas field would help feed the pipeline. Estimates showed the costs of the pipeline project would amount to $450 million. Managing Director of Iran's Gas Engineering and Development Company, Alireza Gharibi had indicated last May that Iranian contractors will build a 220 kilometers long pipeline to transport natural gas to Iraq. Iran has the second largest gas reserves in the world after Russia.