Iran will start pumping gas to Basra, Iraq by March 2018 after completion of the gas pipeline project, a top government official said.
 
Iran currently exports 12 million cu m of gas per day to Iraq's capital Baghdad, Deputy Petroleum Minister Hamid-Reza Araqi was quoted as saying in an Iran Daily report.

“The problems related to receiving money from Iraq for its imports of Iran's gas have been solved,” Araqi added.

Part of the gas pipeline in Iran's soil has been constructed, said Araqi, who is also managing director of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC).

The part of the pipeline in Iraq is not ready yet, but it may be completed within three months, the official added.

Iran plans to export 80 billion cu m of gas annually, 50 billion cu m of which is to be exported to the neighbouring countries.

When Iran starts pumping gas to Basra, the exports to Iraq will reach 40 million cu m a day, the report said.