Iran to lead Middle East gas expansion

With a focus on developing the South Pars field, Iran is set for a major expansion of natural gas production

The International Energy Agency pulls no punches. In its World Energy Outlook 2017 it states unequivocally: "In our projections, Iran leads gas output growth in the Middle East, adding 150bn cubic metres [a year] to the region's gas supply in the period to 2040." The agency admits that "many uncertainties remain", but goes on to say that the lifting of the main international sanctions and the recent presidential elections have raised the likelihood of the continued development of the super-giant South Pars gasfield, the southern part of which belongs to Qatar and is called the North Field. Even if President Donald Trump imposes fresh sanctions on Iran, the expectation is that European and As