According to Shana correspondent, at a ceremony for inauguration of the second stage of the eighth cross- country gas pipeline and a gas pressure relay station, the petroleum minister stressed on reduction of gas consumption in all sectors and said: on Wednesday (7 Bahman, 27 January) total natural gas consumption in the country amounted to 514 million cubic meters, equivalent to 4/5 million barrels of oil.
Mir Kazemi reminded that so far more than 170 thousand kilometers of urban and rural gas pipelines and 32 thousand kilometers of high-pressure gas pipelines have been constructed in the country.
He also said that the National Iranian Gas company (NIGC) has more than 2/4 thousand kilometers of high pressure gas pipelines under construction and expressed hope that a big part of them to be linked to national network before the end of the year (20 March 2010).
Mir kazemi stipulated that while more than 93 percent of urban population and 32 percent of rural population are beneficiaries of natural gas in the country, situation before the glorious Islamic Revolution is obscure.
He expressed that by exploitation of the eighth cross-country gas pipeline, with a transmission capacity of 110 million cubic meters per day, gas flow pressure in the national network would be more stable.
According to the petroleum minister linking the pipeline to the north and northeastern pipeline of the country, paves the way for gas exports and making revenue.