Addressing a ceremony to witness signature of a contract for
construction of a gas pipeline stretching from Iranshahr and Chabahar,
southeastern Iran, Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said the
pipeline will feed two methanol production units in Makran.
He underlined the strategic importance of Makran
for Iran and the Islamic Republic's determination to develop the area, saying: "We
have plans to construct refineries and petrochemical facilities in the
area."
Zangeneh said that in addition to the area's
significance as a port, petrochemical and steel facilities are planned to be
built in it which will turn the area into a key region with access to the
Indian Ocean.
"Makran is the safest region in Iran inhabited
by the country's most original citizens," said the official.
The Iranian Gas Engineering and Development
Company (IGEDC) has planned to invest €245 million on construction of the gas
pipeline from the southeastern city of Iranshahr to Chabahar.
The 290-km pipeline will be commissioned by March
2020, end of the next Iranian calendar year.
Funded by the National Iranian Gas Company
(NIGC), the project is aimed at feeding Chabahar and Kenarak Power Plants and
petrochemical and industrial facilities in the Makran region as well as
exporting gas to Pakistan.
On Monday, April 23, the Iranian Ministry of
Petroleum and Defense Minister signed a contract for developing the pipeline in
Sistan and Baluchestan Province.