Potential customers for Iran's gas include Turkey, Ukraine, Europe (possibly via Ukraine), Pakistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, India, Taiwan, South Korea, and coastal China. Exports could be either via pipeline or by LNG tanker, with possible LNG export terminals at Asaluyeh or Kish Island. Three LNG plants are reportedly under construction, and a natural gas pipeline is being built from Khoi in NW Iran to Azerbaijan. A recent proposal to build a pipeline to India has fallen foul of the threat of war between India and Pakistan; instead, Iran now plans to ship the gas to India by LNG tankers (PP, 21 March 2002).
| Name and route |
Main operators |
Main (sub)contractors; main suppliers |
Dates |
| IGAT 1 (First Iran Gas Trunkline) |
|
|
|
| IGAT 2 |
|
Snamprogetti, Saipem |
|
| IGAT 3 |
|
Currently being constructed by Russian and local contractors |
|
| IGAT 4 |
|
in discussion stage |
|
| South Pars ? Asaluyeh; twin undersea pipelines |
Total |
Hyundai Heavy Industries |
Started 1999 |
| Iran-Armenia |
|
|
Started 2001 |
| Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Crimea-Ukraine (? Europe?) |
|
|
Under discussion |
| Khoi (NW Iran) ? Azerbaijan |
|
|
Started 2001 |
Iran ? Turkey
? Greece (? W. Europe?) |
|
|
Started 1996 (extended to Greece, 2002: see PP, 9
May 2002); operational 2000 |
| (Iran ? Pakistan ? India) |
BHP Billiton |
|
To start 2002; then shelved |
| Iran ? India via sea (PP, 21 March 2002) |
NIOC |
Snamprogetti and Saipem |
Starts 2002 |