New Batch of South Pars Equipment Released

Spanish and French equipment for phases 20 and 21 of the giant South Pars Gas Field have been released, the director of the two phases said in a statement.

“Bans on several Japanese consignments have also been lifted and the goods delivered to Iran,” Alireza Ebadi was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.

Ebadi noted that with the tightening of sanctions in 2011 and 2012, European and Asian manufacturers stopped the delivery of much-needed oil and gas equipment to Iran in fear of violating UN and US restrictions on doing business with the country over it’s disputed nuclear energy program.

“However, following the easing of sanctions in January, foreign producers showed interest in resuming the sale of oil and gas equipment,” he added.

According to the official, some multinational companies have also manufactured and supplied the needed equipment, which include valves, cryogenic pumps and machinery for refineries.

In February, the first batch of high-tech turbines and compressors blocked by Siemens was released and unloaded in Asalouyeh, Bushehr Province.

Hassan Bouyeri, director of South Pars phases 17 and 18, told Shana that the cargo, which the Oil Ministry had bought to upgrade its aging oil and gas facilities, consisted of seven sets of electro-compressors to be installed in the South Pars phases 12, 17 and 18 refineries.

He added that equipment was blocked in the UAE and the Netherlands for more than three years.

Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh had earlier announced that 30 turbines and compressors were blocked by Siemens, which would be used not only in South Pars facilities but also in Iran LNG and Persian Gulf Star refineries.

Ebadi said the development of phases 20 and 21 has made 90% progress and  total production capacity of natural gas from the two phases is expected to reach 50 million cubic meters per day by the next fiscal year in March.