Iran opens new export terminal in Jask complete with 1,000 km pipeline Iran has opened a new export terminal in Jask, in the south of Iran (with a capacity of 1 million barrels per day), allowing it to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. A 1,000 kilometre pipeline from Goreh, in Bushehr Province, runs to the export facility. Iranian minister of petroleum Bijan Zangeneh has said the terminal and pipeline will be fully operational by March 2022, according to Shana news agency. Initially, capacity is 300,000 bpd. The Jask Oil Terminal (JOT) has initial storage capacity of 500,000 barrels of crude, but there are plans to increase this to up to 20 million barrels. Principal advisor at consultancy IGM Energy – Ian Simm, said: “The completion of Jask allows Iran to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, offering swifter access to Asian export markets, thereby cutting shipping costs while also reducing reliance on Kharg Island, which currently accounts for around 90 percent of exports.” A statement from Petroleum Engineering & Development Co (PEDEC) noted that the Goreh- Jask pipeline and JOT projects cost a combined total of around $2 billion. It aimed to decentralise and diversify oil exports, it said, and create jobs around Makran. As the project picks up, it will pave the way for more refining and petrochemical facilities in the area. Local construction accounted for 90 percent of the work. PEDEC reported that 250 contractors and domestic manufacturers had participated. These included anti-corrosion pipes capable to carry sour liquids, 2.7 MW pumps, 42-inch gate valves. All the control systems were Iranian made. Construction and commissioning of the pipeline took place within two years, PEDEC said. National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) began linefill in May this year, with initial volumes of 300,000 bpd. Jask will serve as an alternative to Iran’s existing Kharg Island facility, which has official export capacity of 8m bpd. For more information visit: www.iotco.ir .