Iran and Oman studying gas pipeline route

Iran and Oman are surveying the best path for a subsea pipe to transfer Iran’s natural gas to the Sultanate of Oman.

Iran and Oman’s energy agreement
In August, Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and his Omani counterpart Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy signed a memorandum of understanding on energy co-operation, reportedly the largest economic agreement between the two countries so far.

The US$ 60 billion gas supply deal states that over the next 25 years Oman would buy nearly half of its total natural gas imports from Iran, via the pipeline.

‘One step at a time’
Construction of the planned pipeline, its length and possible route, will be explored and pipelaying operations are expected to start soon after a final decision is made. Mohammed bin Hamed al-Rumhy said, “We are currently doing a survey to find out the optimum distance and characteristics of the seabed and all that goes with it.”

He added that, as a result of the complexities of constructing a subsea pipeline between the two countries, it could take more than four years before gas flows commence. Under the agreement made in August, Zanganeh had announced that gas exports form Iran would start in less than two years.

With the intrinsic technical challenges posed by the pipeline project, the Omani Minister said, “We will take one step at a time.”

Economic development
Iranian ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman Ali Akbar Sibeveih said, "The export of gas to Oman will mark a significant economic development in the relations between the two countries." He added that excess gas, which is projected to account for 50% of the total amount of the gas exported to Oman, would be delivered to Japan, South Korea and India.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/24102013/iran_and_oman_studying_gas_pipeline_route/