Iran starts gas exports to Iraq

Iran started a project to export natural gas to its western neighbor – Iraq. 

Exports of around 7 million cubic meters per day (bcm/d) to Iraq’s capital Baghdad had started from the late hours of Wednesday, June 21, the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) said.

NIGC Director for International Affairs Hamid-Reza Babazadeh said that this would proceed on a trial basis, adding that the exports would increase to as high as 35 mcm/d in the near future. 

Gas exports to Iraq - which are meant to address the country’s acute electricity shortfalls - started after two years of negotiations between Tehran and Baghdad. This was seen by the media as a sign that both sides had overcome disputes over the financial terms of the project – what was so far preventing the project, Iran.ru reported.