Iranian private firms will build five compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Iraq, director of CNG stations establishment projects said, Shana news agency reported.
Construction of the fuel stations in Iraq will go start by Iranian contractors once gas supply to the western Arab neighbor commences, Amir Vakilzadeh said on the sidelines of the 20th International Iran Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition in Tehran.
The CNG stations will be built between the Iranian town of Shalamcheh on the border with Iraq and Basra in southern Iraq.
Vakilzadeh also said that negotiations are underway with Russian energy officials on building CNG stations in the country by Iran's private sector.
According to latest reports, more than 2260 CNG stations are now operating across Iran, with another 145 under construction.
Around seven billion liters of gasoline was saved in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended March 2015) due to the increase in CNG consumption.
Iran is one of the leading countries in promoting CNG use. More than $2.4 billion has been invested to expand the number of CNG stations and close to 22,000 people are employed in this industry.
Efforts to promote CNG consumption started more than a decade ago, as Iran tried to capitalize on its huge gas reserves.
CNG accounts for approximately 23 percent of Iran's fuel basket, but it's projected to increase to 35 percent before the end of the Sixth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2016-2021).
