Intecsea ‘submits proposal for Iran-Oman pipeline’
Dutch firm keen on deal to work on the $1.5bn, 400km gas pipeline project – report
Dutch offshore engineering firm Intecsea has submitted a proposal to participate in the construction of the proposed $1.5 billion Iran-Oman gas pipeline project, according to a report in the Oman Observer.
The Muscat-based newspaper quoted the company’s project manager, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, as telling the Iranian news agency Mehr that Intecsea was interested in being part of the project and can cooperate with Iran by providing special engineering and technical services.
Intecsea had earlier undertaken construction of some offshore pipelines in Iran’s South Pars gas field, it was reported.
“The construction of the Iran-Oman pipeline will make Iran’s ambition to become a liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter come true. With the realisation of this pipeline, Iran will be able to use the Qalhat LNG plant – which has the capacity to liquefy 10.4 million tonnes of LNG per annum – in Oman as the Islamic Republic does not have one,” Akbarzadeh told Mehr.
A few months ago, Korea Gas Corp and National Iranian Gas Company signed a memorandum of understanding on constructing three major gas pipelines in the Islamic Republic, including the Iran-Oman gas pipeline, Oman Observer said. Studies on the project were first done 10 years ago and in 2013 Iran and Oman agreed to push for its completion. It then stalled due to the US-backed sanctions on Iran but was later revived with the lifting of the restrictions.
The pipeline will stretch 400km and comprise an onshore and an offshore section. The onshore section will extend 200km from Rudan to Mobarak Mount in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, while the seabed section will be between Iran and Oman’s Sohar port. According to the Oman Observer, the groundwork for laying the subsea pipeline began in April this year.
