Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran plans to boost exports of sulfur and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to the world markets.

Managing-director of Iranian Gas Commercial Company (IGCC), Mohammad Ali Barati said the volume of the country's annual revenues from sulfur and LPG exports hit nearly one billion dollar a year, Press Tv reported.

Barati said Iran's annual sulfur exports have reached 650,000 tons, adding that the country plans to raise its exports to one million tons a year.

He further said China is the main buyer of Iran's sulfur along with India and some Southeast Asian states.

Iranian oil refineries are currently producing 500 tons of sulfur a day. This figure is expected to exceed 1,200 tons as Iranian Oil Ministry is working on projects to separate more sulfur from oil products.

Iran also counts on the gigantic offshore South Pars gas field whose new refineries are expected to come on stream in the near future.

The South Pars gas field is estimated to contain 14 trillion cubic meters of gas and 18 billion barrels of gas condensate. It covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which lie in Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf.

Besides, a 32 inch gas pipeline will start soon work to carry sour gas from South Pars phase 12 to onshore facilities.

Recently, operator of phase 12 Rasoul Fallahnejad made the remarks adding the pipeline has undergone pressure and leakage tests.

Development plan of South Pars gas field phase 12 is underway with the aim of producing 75 million meters of rich gas per day for injection to national gas grid and converting to LNG.

It is envisaged 25 mcm to be injected to gas gird and 50 mcm to be used for changing into LNG.

Production of 120 thousand barrels of gas condensate and 750 tons of sulfur per day are the other targets of the phase 12 development plan.