Biomass

Biomass type:

Gas

Iran's proved reserves are second only to those of the Russian Federation, and account for 16% of the world total; they exceed the combined proved reserves of North America, South America and Europe (excluding the Russian Federation). The Iranian WEC Member Committee reports that at the end of 1999 proved reserves of natural gas were 24 308 billion m3, approximately 5% higher than the level reported for the 1998 Survey. Of the end-1999 reserves, 63% were non-associated with crude oil. The proved amount of gas in place is stated to be 32 699 bcm, a figure almost unchanged from that reported three years ago.

For many years only minute quantities of associated gas output were utilised as fuel in fields or at Abadan refinery: by far the greater part was flared. Utilisation of gas in the industrial, residential and commercial sectors began in 1962 after the construction of a pipeline from Gach Saran to Shiraz.

In 1999, according to Cédigaz, 56% of Iran's gross production of gas was marketed. Some 28.5% of Iran’s gross production of nearly 95 bcm was re-injected into formations in order to maintain or enhance pressure; about 11% was flared or vented and 4%-5% lost through shrinkage. The marketed production volume of about 53 bcm was augmented by 2 bcm of gas imported from Turkmenistan. Iran’s principal gas-consuming sectors are electricity generation (38% of total consumption in 1998) and industrial and residential users (27% each).

Nuclear

Construction started at Bushehr in the mid-1970’s of two 1 200 MWe PWR’s, but work was suspended following the 1979 revolution. A 950 MWe (net) unit was reported to be under construction at end of 1999, with an estimated in-service date of 2004. Reactor equipment supplied by Russia will reportedly be installed during 2001-2002. A press report in March 2001 indicated that Iran would order a second Russian reactor once work on the first unit has been completed. The Iranian WEC Member Committee expects both units to be in operation by the end of 2010.

Oil

The first commercial crude oil discovered in Iran was at Masjid-i-Sulaiman in 1908. Further exploration in the next two decades resulted in the discovery of a number of major oil fields, including Agha Jari and Gach Saran. Fields such as these confirmed Iran in its role as a global player in the oil industry. After many years as a major oil producer, the country's oil resources are still enormous: proved reserves, as published by OPEC (and also quoted by World Oil) were 93 100 million barrels at the end of 1999, the level which has been adopted for the present Survey. OAPEC and OGJ quote the somewhat lower figure of 89 700 million barrels, but the reserves/production ratio is high (at around 70 years) in either case.

In 1999, 74% of Iran’s crude oil output of 3.4 million b/d was exported, mostly to Europe and Asia. Iran was a founder member of OPEC in 1960.

Uranium

Exploratory work has been undertaken for more than twenty years and a number of small prospects have been defined. In recent years the Exploration Division of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran has been active at several locations in the centre and north-west of the country.

Reasonably assured resources (in-situ) amount to 491 tonnes, with a further 876 tonnes of additional resources (EAR-I), both recoverable at US$ 80-130/kgU. Undiscovered conventional resources consist of 4 500 tonnes in category EAR-II, plus 5 000 tonnes of speculative resources, both recoverable at less than US$ 130/kgU.