China intends to build six supertankers for Iran to transport liquified gas, Iran News reports, citing sources in the gas production industry. The deal is estimated to be worth $1.2 billion and will take three years to complete. If the deal does in fact go through, Iran will be able to provide its own market with gas and also have enough left for export. Exporting gas by tanker means the country will depend less on politics encountered in pumping the fuel over land – a significant factor inhibiting the construction of new pipelines.
The first tanker may be ready as soon as 2012. Meanwhile, China has inked a contract with Iran for the delivery of liquified gas from its Pars field worth $3.35 billion.
