Tehran, YJC. Iraq has expressed its consent to the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran to Syria through its territory, Iraqi newspaper Aswat al-Iraq reported on Wednesday.
The country's government authorized Oil Minister Abdul Karim al-Luaibi to sign a framework agreement with oil ministers from Iran and Syria to build the gas pipeline.
Iraq, Iran and Syria's oil industry ministers signed a preliminary agreement on cooperation in the construction of the gas pipeline on July 25, 2011 in the southern province of Bushehr. Cost of the agreement is estimated at $10 billion.
Iranian officials have stated that Syria will get from 20 to 25 million cubic meters of Iran's gas per day, while Iraq signed a contract with Tehran to get about 25 million cubic meters of gas per day to meet the needs of its power plants.
The gas will be extracted at a field in the Persian Gulf, which Iran shares with Qatar.
According to Iran's estimates, reserves of this field are estimated at 16 trillion cubic meters of gas.
Iranian officials have stated that Tehran also seeks to extend the pipeline to Lebanon and the Mediterranean region for subsequent supply of natural gas to Europe.
The length of the gas pipeline will be 225 kilometers, and its construction will be completed by June 2013.
Source: Trend News