TEHRAN, June 14 (Shana) � Muscat is in talk with Abu Dhabi to obtain required authorization for passage of Iran-Oman gas pipeline from its national waters, NIGEC senior official said.

Speaking to Shana, Managing director of National Iranian Gas Exports Company (NIGEC) Alireza Kameli said that taking the authorization from a third country to pass the pipeline from its waters takes time.

He said it is natural processes that for passage of pipeline from a country's national waters take permission from its legal authorities.

"We hope that Muscat take the authorization from Abu Dhabi in the near future, " the official added.

Kameli has recently told Shana that seven foreign companies have declared interest to join Iranian companies in construction of Iran-Oman undersea gas pipeline.

He added that immediately after end of studying phase and signing the contract, the Iran-Oman gas pipeline will be constructed in two years.

By implementation of this gas export pipeline, current capacity of 1 billion cubic feet of Iran gas export to Oman will increase to 1.5 billion cubic feet.

The 400-kilometer pipeline, stretching from Iran to Oman is defined in two onshore and offshore sections. Land part of the gas pipeline extends for 200 kilometers from Rudan to Mobarak Mount in southern Hormozgan province. The seabed section between Iran and Sohar Port in Oman will stretch for another 200 kilometers.

According to reports, the construction of the subsea pipeline is estimated to cost $1.5 billion.

Iran and Oman have signed basic agreements based on which Iran will export a daily amount of 28 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas to Oman. Almost a third of the gas will be used in spare liquefaction facilities of Oman�s Qalhat plant and the rest will be consumed in the Persian Gulf sultanate�s domestic market. Iran will accordingly use the LNG produced for exports to European and Asian markets.

By SHANA