Petropars is still looking for a foreign partner for the project, after signing up as the main buyback contractor a year ago. The work will be split into different packages for topsides, jackets and the onshore plant and facilities.

The phase will produce three times the quantity of gas as other South Pars phases. This translates as 3,000 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of natural gas, 120,000 barrels a day (b/d) of condensates and 600 tonnes a day of sulphur.

Two-thirds of the project will be devoted to NIOC LNG, for which National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) has been negotiating with potential partners. The remaining gas will be pumped into Iran's gas network for use as petrochemical feedstock and reinjection into oil field reservoirs.

Work on other South Pars phases continues. On phase 11, to serve the Pars LNG project, basic engineering is under way. Phases 15-16 and 17-18 are under negotiation after awards last year and the EPC tender is awaited for phases 19-22 (MEED 21:4:06; 3:3:06; 17:2:06).