Tasnim � Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said that with the launch of the 17th and 18th phases of the giant South Pars Gas Field on Sunday, the country�s total gas production capacity increased by more than 50 million cubic meters per day.





With the two phases of the South Pars Gas Field connected to the national grid, the country�s daily gas output capacity has risen by over 50m cubic meters, Zanganeh said during a visit to the two phases in the southwestern port city of Asalouyeh on Sunday, noting that the total gas production has now surpassed 500 million cubic meters per day.

He praised domestic experts for constructing the two phases and said, �The capabilities of the Iranian technicians have been used in the design, manufacture and installation of equipment as well as the supply of needed parts (in the two phases).�

The South Pars Phases 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 were inaugurated by Iran�s President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday.

The oil minister said three other phases of the gas field are planned to become operational and get connected to the national grid by the end of the current Iranian year (started on March 21).

Zanganeh also said that after the coming into service of the remaining phases, the country�s daily gas production would rise to 800m cubic meters, surpassing that of neighboring Qatar.

The South Pars gas field, whose development has been divided into 28 phases, is located in the Persian Gulf straddling the maritime border between Iran and Qatar.

It is estimated that the Iranian section of the field contains 14 trillion cubic meters of gas and 18 billion barrels of condensates in place.