TEHRAN -- Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi and Omani Oil Minister Mohammed Al-Ramahi met here on Tuesday, starting a new round of talks on bilateral energy cooperation.

Gas swap, gas transit, Iran’s gas export to Oman, and bilateral investments in the gas sector are among the major topics discussed, IRNA reported.
The development of the Kish and Hengam gas fields in the Persian Gulf, and joint construction of petrochemical units are the other major topics that will be discussed during the upcoming negotiations.
Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Company, Seyed Reza Kasaeizadeh said earlier in August that Omanis need to purchase 2 billion cubic feet of gas from Iran for the country’s consumption.
Kasaeizadeh said the Kish gas field and the different phases of the South Pars gas field are being considered for gas exports to Oman.
Iran and Oman signed a deal in April to jointly develop Iran’s Kish gas field in the Persian Gulf at an estimated cost of between $7-12billion. The two sides plan to complete the development of the Kish gas field by 2012.
The first phase of the project will transport gas to Oman at a rate of one billion cubic feet per day, which will then rise to 3 billion cubic feet.
During the talks in Tehran, the two neighbors are also to negotiate the details of the project including the extent of Oman’s investment in the development of the Kish gas field