TEHRAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's deputy Petroleum Minister said Saturday that Iran is pondering the exports of gas to the European countries, semi-official Fars news agency reported.
"Exports of Iran's gas to Europe is possible both through LNG and pipeline," Hamidreza Araqi said, adding that "to this end, different European companies have come to Iran and held some negotiations."
Araqi said that if the contracts on the supply of gas to Europe are signed, it will take five years for them to be implemented.
In relevant remarks in December, head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Gholam Hossein Shafeyee, said that Iran's gas can be exported to Europe via Georgia and the Black Sea in the near future.
Also, in April, Iranian Petroleum Minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, said that his ministry is mulling to bring the French energy giant, Total, to develop a key project Iran to liquefy natural gas for the exports to Europe.
"Serious talks are underway with Total in this regard," he was quoted as saying by Fars.
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