Gas Trunkline Compressor Stations Ready for Launch

Five natural gas compressor stations are expected to be inaugurated in Isfahan and Fars Provinces on Thursday by First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, the head of Iranian Gas Engineering and Development Company (IGEDC) said.

“The new facilities, which are a part of the 8th Iran Gas Trunkline (IGAT-8), will increase the capacity of the pipeline from 60 million cubic meters a day to 110 mcm," Hassan Montazer-Torbati was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency on Wednesday.

The 56-inch-diameter IGAT-8 gas pipeline that stretches over 1,000 km, will transfer 110 mcm of gas from South Pars gas field to the central parts of the country on a daily basis.

According to the official, the gas compressors cost more than $420 million and will help "IGAT-8 to go on stream by the end of the current fiscal that ends on March 20".

According to Torbati, the compressor stations, which were designed and built by Iranian engineers, will become operational in Kashan, Naeen and Khanj in Isfahan Province as well as Safashahr and Jahrom in Fars Province. Four 25 MW turbo compressors are utilized to power the stations.

Asked about IGAT-9, Torbati hoped that concurrent with the South Pars development plans, the next trunkline will become operational in two years and cost an estimated $7 billion.

IGAT-9 is a 1,900-kilometer prospective pipeline which will stretch from the southern city of Asalouyeh in Bushehr through Ahvaz, Dehgolan and eventually the Bazargan district and border crossing point in West Azerbaijan Province in the northwest.

"Upon completion, the pipeline will transfer 100 million cubic meters of natural gas per day," he said.