He said by end of this year, six platforms of South Pars will be carried and put into operation. 

He added, "Exploitation of so many platforms in a year marks an unprecedented record. Thus far, three platforms of B18, A19 and 21 have been loaded and installed as the platform A19 was put into operation last week.

Today, the platform B17 was loaded from Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co (ISOICO) in Bandar Abbas and by next month, the platforms of A19 and 20 will be loaded from Khorramshahr Yard.

Manouchehri said the onshore part of phases 19, 20 and 21 has gained favorable progress. "The refinery part of phases 17 and 18 had already been put into operation."

The official said operation of the five phases by end of this year, will enable Iran to raise its gas output in South Pars to equal that of Qatar. 

Manouchehri announced that phases 14, 13, 22 and 24 are the project whose commissioning is on agenda.

By end of this year, 30,000 barrels of oil will be extracted from the oil layer of South Pars, said Manouchehri, adding that a number of companies have called for development of the oil layer in the second phase, for instance Danish Maersk. Since it has experience of activity in the Qatari party of the field, is willing to be active in the Iranian part too, he noted.