Mubasher: Iran is expected to top countries in the Middle East in terms of oil and gas new-build trunk/transmission pipeline length additions, according to a report released on Thursday by GlobalData.

As per the report, Iran is expected to contribute around 43% of the region’s planned and announced pipeline length additions between 2020 and 2023.

The Islamic republic is forecast to have new-build pipeline length of 7,496 kilometres by 2023.

“A total of 18 new-build pipelines are expected to start operations in Iran by 2023. Iranian Gas Trunkline–IGAT IX is the longest upcoming pipeline in the country with a length of 1,863 kilometres,” Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, Adithya Rekha, commented.

“It is a natural gas pipeline that is expected to start operations in 2022. National Iranian Gas Co owns a 100% equity stake in the pipeline and will also be its operator,” Rekha said.

Moreover, Iraq is expected to rank below Iran as the second-highest contributor to the Middle East’s new-build pipeline length, adding a length of 3,775 km by 2023.

The report also expects Saudi Arabia to rank third by length additions of 1,824.8 km by 2023.