TEHRAN - Gas transmission through Iran’s natural gas network reached 133 billion cubic meters (bcm) in the first six months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-September 21), Iranian Gas Transmission Company (IGTC)’s Managing Director Peyman Khazraei announced.

Khazraei said 74 percent of the overhaul plans and development goals of the company for the current year have been completed so far, and the rest will be realized by the end of the year (late March 2025), Shana reported.

“Since the beginning of this year, 1,267 kilometers of smart tracking, approximately 2,000 kilometers of pipeline cleaning, about 26,000 kilometers of leak detection, 2,100 meters of pipeline replacement, 70,543 square meters of coating replacement, and 18 cases of hot taps have been carried out” the official said.

According to Khazraei, about 106 kilometers of optical fiber cables have also been installed by Iran Gas Transmission Company this year with the aim of improving communication across various stations, and the total optical fiber network of the company has reached about 9,000 kilometers.

The official further mentioned the IGTC's achievements in the overhaul sector, saying: “In the past years, a large number of different turbines were sent to the country of manufacture for major overhauls and reconstruction, but with new planning in this company, capable contractors have been identified and with the proper foundation and necessary support, now a significant number of the domestic contractors of the country are active in the field of repairs and reconstruction and manufacturing of turbine spare parts.”

Operating the largest natural gas network in West Asia, National Iranian Gas Company has been continuously expanding this network into the country’s most remote areas so that currently over 98 percent of the urban population, as well as 90 percent of the country’s rural population, have access to natural gas through this huge network.

EF/MA