Contractors line up for major Iran gas pipeline

Contractors have submitted proposals for a construction contract covering an 1,800 kilometre long cross-country gas pipeline in Iran.

The pipeline is designed to boost exports to Turkey and Europe from the western region of the country. The entire project is worth an estimated $5bn.

Iran's Gas Transmission Company says the scope of this phase of the project covers a 17-inch pipeline along with the development of 17 pressure boosting stations on a build-own-operate basis.

The pipeline is designed to transfer sweet gas produced by phases 9 and 10 of South Pars field and will have capacity to transmit 110m cubic metres of gas a day.

A decision on the contract is due in the second quarter of the year.

It is one of several major pipeline projects being planned by Tehran, which include a proposed pipeline to India, via Pakistan.