Tehran: Iran produced natural gas for the first time in two months. Iran has resumed gas production at three offshore drilling platforms in the South Pars gas field, the world's largest natural gas and liquefied natural gas field, after it was shut down for two months by an Israeli attack in mid-March.
According to Thai News Agency, Al Jazeera reported, citing Turaj Dehghani, CEO of Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC), Iran's state-owned oil and natural gas company, that Iran has resumed gas production at three offshore drilling platforms in the South Pars gas field, following the Israeli attack on the world's largest natural gas and liquefied natural gas field in March.
Dehghani revealed on Sunday that the three offshore drilling rigs in South Pars were undamaged by the attack, but production had been suspended earlier because onshore gas processing plants in Bushehr province and onshore processing systems in the Assaluyeh region were damaged by airstrikes in March, rendering them unable to process gas. He added that natural gas from the three rigs is being sent to other natural gas processing plants in the region, while repairs to the plants damaged by the March attack, including the Phase 14 refinery near Bandar Kungan, continue.
Experts point out that the resumption of gas production at the South Pars oil field is significant both symbolically and practically for Iran. It represents an attempt to signal the restoration of much of Iran's energy infrastructure, which was attacked by Israel and the United States, including the South Pars petrochemical plant, Iran's largest petrochemical facility, and oil storage facilities in Tehran.
However, analysts point out that it remains to be seen whether Iran will succeed in exporting energy, while the US military continues its blockade of Iranian ports since April 13, hoping to pressure Iran into agreeing to a ceasefire.
South Pars is the world's largest natural gas reserve, covering an area in the Persian Gulf. Iran shares ownership with Qatar and it is a central energy hub for Iran, accounting for over 70% of the country's total natural gas production. Therefore, the restoration of production is of paramount importance to Iran's electricity system and economy.
In the latest global oil price report, prices rose by more than 2 percent during early trading today (June 1). Brent crude, the benchmark price, increased by 2.37 percent to $93.28 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by 2.71 percent to $89.73 per barrel, in response to escalating tensions between the Israeli military and Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire that had been in place for over six weeks.