Parsi Oil Sent to European Country
A 500,000-barrel cargo extracted from West Karoun has been exported from Bahregan to a European nation this month.
The crude oil loading and export operations were arranged and conducted by administrative divisions and carried out by offshore and onshore operation sections.
Ali Kardor, CEO of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), had earlier spoken about Iran's crude oil consumption in East Asia, saying: "The heavy crude oil extracted in Bahregansar and ultra-heavy crude oil extracted in West Karoun are of interest to East Asia. These countries blend Iran's heavy crude oil with gas condensate so that it becomes cost-effective for them."
The ultra-heavy crude oil produced in West Karoun is carried via Omidiyeh pumping station to Bahregan to be stored and prepared for export through Bahregan SBM.
In light of the Azadegan oil delivery to Bahregan for exports and projections for more export tankers, there were earlier plans to secure facilities in order to counter air pollution.
Iran to Sell Electricity to Georgia
Iran plans to sign an agreement for selling electricity to Georgia, the CEO of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) said.
"We consider about 10% of electricity swapped with Armenia for sales to Georgia, for which a contract is to be signed soon," Hamid Reza Araqi said.
"In return for Iran's gas imports, Armenia generates and delivers electricity to NIGC. We are likely to sell a portion of this electricity to Georgia," he added.
Touching on negotiations between Iran and Georgia for selling electricity to this country, Araqi said: "Negotiations have been conducted between the two nations for Iran to export electricity generated in Armenia, to Georgia. An agreement is set to be signed soon to that end."
"Of total electricity we receive from Armenia, 10% is planned to be sold to Georgia," said Araqi.
Based on the agreement signed between Iran and Armenia, more than 1 mcm/d of gas is exported to Armenia in return for electricity delivered to Iran. The electricity is first delivered to NIGC prior to being passed on to Tavanir Power Distribution Company.
Gas, Iran Strategic Leverage
Iran's Deputy Minister of Petroleum for International Affairs and Commerce Amir-Hossein Zamani-Nia said gas constitutes a strategic lever in Iran's hands.
"Iran should export its surplus gas to Europe and other nations and use gas as a strategic lever to expand its influence in the world," he said.
"In gas exports, we have to pursue strategic interests and benefits. If our gas production overtakes our domestic consumption we definitely need to export gas to Europe and other nations," he added.
"Owing to its current position in the world and sitting atop the world's largest gas reserves, Iran can use gas as a strategic lever and expand its influence," said Zamani-Nia.
He said Russia had guaranteed its energy economics through selling gas to Europe. "Gas may guarantee our long-term interests and help us expand our strategic influence in this regard," he added.
Gasoline Output up 18 ml/d
CEO of National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) Ali-Reza Sadeq-Abadi said Iran's gasoline production in the first quarter of the current calendar year (started March 21) grew 18 million liters a day (ml/d) year-on-year.
Some refineries were being overhauled over this period, he said, adding: "The overhaul of refineries was unique in light of reduced costs and time and no accident."
He said that despite unpredictable events like gas, electricity or water cut to some refineries, "we fulfilled our commitments to reach the average production of 78 ml/d of gasoline."
He expressed hope that Iran's gasoline production would increase over the coming three months when overhaul of refineries comes to an end.
Overhaul operation at Iranian refineries has led to gasoline output hike. Ali-Reza Amin, CEO of Shazand oil refinery, said overhaul of the treatment facility increased its gasoline production to 16.5 ml/d.
"Euro-4 gasoline production at Shazand refinery increased from 8-12 ml/d to 16.5 ml/d," he said, adding that no accident was recorded during the overhaul.
Noting that distillation, liquefied gas, catalytic conversion, viscosity reduction and kerosene treatment sections had been overhauled in Phase 1, he said: "The time needed for the overhauls was respectively 27 days, 19 days, 21 days, 26 days and 23 days."