Shana -- Iran is ready to officially launch South Pars 17 and 18 projects, the managing director of Industrial Projects Management of Iran Company said.
Hassan Boveiri an investment of $8.1 billion has been made for development of the projects, adding more than one third of the investments on the project ($2.5b) have returned so far.

He said the first gas sweetening train of the phases came on-stream in January, adding over 15.5 billion cubic meters of gas from the projects has been injected to the national gas distribution network.

Boveiri said 4 platforms belonging to SP 17 and 18 are now producing 56 mcm of gas form the phases, adding the refinery facilities of the phases can supply 50 mcm/d of sweet gas.

Oil Industries' Engineering and Construction (OIEC), Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC) and Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Company (ISOICO), SADRA, the National Iranian Drilling Company and Dana Energy are among developers of the projects.