Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Exports Company Roknoddin Javadi said in Tehran on Wednesday that Iran will soon hold its first ever tender for the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) installations, IRNA reported.

Javadi, talking to IRNA, recalled the world's growing need for LNG supplies, adding that Iran will join the international exporters of the product within the current decade.

He said the tender, entitled 'NIOC LNG', will be held within the next month.

Javadi added that Iran's talks with the British Petroleum (BP) and Royal Dutch/Shell on LNG projects are currently continuing, stressing that the talks had made 'good progress'.

He also said the tender would involve gas desalination facilities, liquidation equipment, loading facilities and two LNG production lines each with a capacity of 4.8 million tons a year.

Iran to start oil production from Zagros field in 2004

Iran is considering to start production oil from its Zagros field in the next Iranian calendar year of 1383 (starting March 20, 2004) while the anticipated production of the field is estimated to reach to 100,000 barrels a day in two years, IRNA reported from Tehran on Wednesday quoting the local press.

The Persian-language newspaper 'Jaam-e Jam' quoted Mohammad-Hashem Baqerpour, the managing director of the South Zagros Oil and Gas Development Company, as saying that his company is currently implementing several gas projects on the field, and put the daily gas production of Zagros project at 180 million cubic meters.

Baqerpour stressed the gas production from Zagros field will reach its maximum rate of 180 million cubic meters in winters, stressing that the production will drop to between 130 to 140 million cubic meters in summers.

He also said that the production of Tabnak gas field is expected to hit 20 million cubic meters within the next two weeks.