Although Iranian natural gas consumption is growing rapidly, the country continues to promote export markets for its gas. Under current plans, NIOC optimistically hopes to export 450 Mmcf/d of gas by 2000, rising to 4,000 Mmcf/d by 2005 as larger, more ambitious projects come online. By 2000, NIOC plans to have completed gas export pipelines to Turkey, Armenia, and Nakhichevan. By 2005, lines to Europe and India are planned, in addition to the possibility of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility for producing exports to Asia. In 1996, Iran and Turkey signed a $20 billion agreement that calls for Iran to supply Turkey with natural gas over a period of 22 years, beginning in 1999 at an initial rate of 300 Mmcf/d and rise to a level of 1,000 Mmcf/d in 2005. In November 1998, Turkey began construction of a 623-mile pipeline that could transport gas westward from Iran. The Ezurum-Ankara line could also be used to transport gas from a pipeline from Turkmenistan running beneath the Caspian Sea. Construction of Iran's proposed IGAT 3 pipeline from South Pars to Turkey could cost $2-3 billion.

Iran increasingly is targeting emerging Asian markets like Pakistan and India for LNG exports. In January 1995, Iran and Pakistan signed a preliminary agreement for construction of a $3-billion, 870-mile, 1.6-Bcf/d onshore gas export pipeline linking South Pars with Karachi, Pakistan. Subsequently, a proposed extension to India led to security-of-supply concerns for the Indian government. In 1998, a consortium of Shell, British Gas, Petronas, and an Iranian business group known as the "Foundation for the Deprived and the War Disabled" reportedly was negotiating to export gas from South Pars to Pakistan. A committee is to be established in April 1999 to examine the possibility of a gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan.

Oil		Natural Gas
Oil...	Production...	Natural gas...
Onshore developments...	offshore developments...	New field developments projects...
Terminals...	Refining...	Natural gas exports...