Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC), Alireza Kameli, said gas export to Oman necessitates further negotiations, adding that currently measures are underway for engineering studies and marine pipelines with the finalization of which the two countries will hold talks on the process of gas export and Oman’s gas purchase from Iran.

He said the Omani delegation which arrived in Tehran early in the current week for selecting the consultant for engineering studies and marine issues of gas export to Oman will stay here until early next week for the purpose.

Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi has recently said that import of gas from Iran needed further negotiations, adding that talks were underway between the two countries while Oman is fully aware of the sanctions against Iran. However, he stressed, it will take time and if everything goes well Oman needs to make investment in this regard.

According to an agreement signed between the two countries in 2013, 20 million cubic meters of Iran’s gas is expected to be exported to Oman on daily basis through a pipeline from the bed of the Persian Gulf for a period of 25 years. The value of the agreement is about $60 billion.