A new wrinkle in exporting Iran's Pars gas fied

Iran's Pars natural gas field is the largest in the world.


International sanctions and the U.S. Fifth Fleet, stationed in the Persian Gulf  has blocked export of gas from the Pars field.

Iran and Pakistan signed a accord for a pipeline through Pakistan through which to sell the gas.  The pipeline could reach Indian markets and even China.

Wikipedia, Chinese Guandar Port in Pakistan.

The U.S. has threatened sanctions agains Pakistan if it participates in the pipeline  and conflicting stories appear in Pakistani and Iranian news papers about the progress of the pipeline.  It's future seems in doubt.

Todays's news account in Fars, an Iranian news outlet, describes an alternate way for Iran to get it's gas out.

We'll see how this one develops.

Sat Nov 02, 2013 3:33

Iran, Oman in Talks over Gas Deal

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian and Omani experts are discussing the contents of a deal on the supply of Iran’s gas to Oman, an official announced on Saturday, stressing that Tehran is already prepared to ink the final contract. 

“Exporting gas to Oman is being pursued seriously and experts of the two sides are discussing contents of the deal,” Managing-Director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Hamid Reza Araqi told FNA. 

“Yet, we are right now ready to sign the contract," he said, and added, "As prescribed by the Iranian oil minister, the deal will be endorsed by the Iranian and Omani oil ministers, and we hope this to happen soon.” 

Araqi explained that once the deal is signed, Tehran and Masqat will need 2.5 to 3 years to build the infrastructures needed for the supply of Iran’s gas to Oman. 

In relevant remarks in September, Araqi said that the preliminary studies are underway to finalize a gas contract with Oman. 

He said that the NIGC was studying different aspects of the issue, including economic assessment of the contract and a report on the possible routes. 

He stated implementation of gas contracts requires preliminary expert studies which takes time. 

After several years, reaching agreement on gas price is a breakthrough, NIGC managing director said, adding the two countries have many common grounds for boosting cooperation, including feeding Oman’s LNG units with gas.  

Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and his Omani counterpart signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in August to accelerate finalizing a gas contract between the two sides. 

The Islamic Republic of Iran as the largest owner of gas reserves in the world is the most secure and most economic source of gas exports to the neighboring countries.

For a report from Port Technology International on Oman's ports, see

$645 million Omani port expansions making progress
09 Mar 2011 - Port Planning

The Port of Salalah is to be developed within the $645 million expansion plan Omani ports.
US$645 million Omani port expansion projects progressing
Ports of Salalah, Sohar and Sultanate of Oman under development 

Omani port expansions are seeing significant progress, as multi-billion dollar investment in port operations across the Middle East continue to highlight the key role of the shipping industry for regional trade. 

The US$645 million invested in Oman's port expansion projects include the strategically positioned Sultanate of Oman, and the Ports of Salalah and Sohar

“The billion-dollar expansion plan for Oman’s seaports, particularly in Salalah and Sohar, is continuing unabated as part of its strategy to further develop a competitive and efficient industrial sector and also ensure the security of its essential food commodities,” said Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade.
Up to a billion dollars has been committed to the development of Oman’s new maritime ports and the expansion of existing gateways. 

Construction work on the Port of Salalah is expected to begin by the end of March, with the first phase of the project estimated to cost around $196 million, part of the overall $645-million expansion plan. This will increase its capacity to 40 million tonnes of dry-bulk commodities and five million tonnes of liquid products each year. 

Expansion work on the Port of Sohar is also progressing, with two key projects including the development of a major deepwater jetty and a dry bulk terminal. 

Construction of the new $250-million jetty is already well underway, with completion set for the second half of 2011. Once finished, Sohar will be one of just a handful of ports worldwide with such deepwater capability, allowing for the docking of new generation super-scale ore carriers. 

The second project, the new dry bulk and aggregates terminal, is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2012. It is expected to encourage the growth of quarrying and mining activities in Oman’s Batinah region, further opening it up as a platform for foreign commodities traders to access the markets of the Gulf and wider Middle East. 

An upgrade project is also underway for Oman’s Duqm Port, with new smaller-scale ports planned for Shinas in the north and Hallaniyat Islands in the south.

For an Indian view of Oman's ports, see here.

Omaan's deep wager ports: