Iran and Oman signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on gas export. The MoU was signed by Iranian minister of petroleum Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and his Omani counterpart Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy.
Under the MoU, both sides agreed to start construction of a gas pipeline in the near future, Iran’s SHANA news agency reported.
Signing the deal is considered as one of the most important achievements of a three day Omani high ranking delegation visit to Iran headed by Oman ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a meeting with visiting Omani monarch Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said in Tehran on Monday has stressed the need for the expansion of gas cooperation with Oman.
“There are numerous fields for further expansion of relations between the two countries mainly in the gas sector,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed warm and friendly ties between Iran and Oman.
Sultan Qaboos noted that he has already discussed expansion of ties with Iran in different economic and transit fields, particularly gas sector, with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Ayatollah Khamenei described Oman as a true and good neighbor, saying: “The region is currently in sensitive conditions requiring more coordination between the two countries.”
Iran and Oman have great potentials for boosting cooperation in the oil industry including supplying gas to Oman’s LNG units which could be met mainly through sweet gas reserves of Kish gas field in the Persian Gulf.
Iran sits atop the second largest gas reserves in the world,and a short distance between the two countries through Persian Gulf waters turns Iran into one of the best options for meeting the neighboring country’s gas needs.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, August 27, 2013; Image: NIGC