TEHRAN (PIN) – The managing director of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) announced that four provincial gas companies and a gas refining company were ready to be offered to the private sector by the end of current Iranian calendar year, March 20, 2008.

Elaborating on the NIGC’s measures for enforcement of Article 44 of the Constitution, Seyyed Reza Kassaeizadeh added, “If the Iranian Privatization Organization (IPO) manages to make the necessary arrangements, the NIGC is prepared to sell more companies’ shares beyond the government’s ratification.”
He said that the NIGC was even ready to cede all provincial gas companies to the private sector.
“The selling of companies’ stakes is to the advantage of domestic economy and the NIGC staff and helps achieve the objectives of Paragraph C of Article 44 of the Constitution,” added the top official.
The flare of Ilam Gas Refinery will be lit in the presence of Kassaeizadeh on Sept. 8, marking the martyrdom anniversary of Iranian people in the revolution.
According to the NIGC, the executive operations of the second phase of the Kermanshah-Ilam 30-inch gas transmission line and injection of gas into the line have been carried out and Ilam Gas Refinery is now ready to receive sweet gas and start its initial work.
The refinery is constructed in two phases.
In the first phase, the refinery receives 6.8 million cubic meters of sour gas and injects 5.8 million cubic meters of gas after sweetening process into the transmission line. In the second phase, the refinery is supplied with over 10 million cubic meters of sour gas.
Ilam, Chevar, and Ivan will be supplied with clean fuel, natural gas, when the refinery becomes operational