The National Iranian Oil Company’s (NIOC) Deputy Head of for Development and Engineering Affairs, Gam-Rezhola Manouchehri, said that Iran will add a 100mcm/d to the country’s gas extraction capacity by the end of Iran’s current fiscal year, which ends on March 20, reported Zawya.

Manouchehri remarks came during the loading of the South Pars B17 platform’s ceremony. He added that by the end of the year, six platforms of South Pars will be carried and put into operation, allowing for 30,000b of oil to be extracted, according to IRNA.

It is noted that three platforms B18, A19 and 21 have been loaded and installed at South Pars, while platform A19 was put into operation mid to late October. Additionally, platform B17 was loaded from Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co (ISOICO) in Bandar Abbas, and platforms A19 and 20 will be loaded from Khorramshahr Yard during November. Manouchehri concluded that operation of the five phases by end of this year, will enable Iran to raise its gas output in South Pars to equal that of Qatar.