Page 59 - IRANRptFeb22

Iran ‘launches solid-fuel satellite carrier rocket into space for first time’
US President Joe Biden is aware of, but is withholding details of, a secret agreement for an interim JCPOA that Moscow has proposed to Tehran. Russia and Iran, meanwhile, remain committed to boosting bilateral trade. On January 23, Ebrahim Rezaei, chairman of the Iran-Russia parliamentary friendship group, said progress in cooperation established during Raisi’s visit to Russia would provide for an increase in trade volume between the two countries to an annual $10bn from the current $4bn.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) last week reportedly launched a solid-fuel satellite carrier rocket into space.
A January 13 report from the official IRNA news agency quoted General Amirali Hajizadeh, chief of the Guard’s aerospace unit, as stating that the test was successful and marked the first time Iran has used a solid-fuel rocket rather than a liquid-fuel one. Iran was set to produce lighter rocket engines for further space projects, according to the general.
The satellite carrier was made of a composite material instead of metal, which, Hajizadeh was further quoted as saying, was “cost-efficient”.
Composites are in general more expensive to produce than their metal equivalents, but make a rocket lighter so it can boost a heavier satellite or payload into orbit.
The US remains concerned by Iran’s space launches, given that rocket technology for space missions can be interchangeable for ballistic missile purposes.
9.2 Major corporate news 9.2.1 Oil & gas corporate news
Final South Pars phase to kick off amid Iranian gas drive
Iran is set to kick off gas production from the final offshore phase of its South Pars gas development amid major strain on supply/demand fundamentals. What: South Pars 11 will begin commissioning in September, targeting eventual production of 57 mcm per day of gas.
Why: The supergiant field holds around 14 trillion cubic metres of gas and 18bn barrels of gas condensates.
What Next: Other major gas fields are also coming into focus for NIOC, including Farzad A and B, Kish and North Pars.
Iran is expected to begin commissioning on the final offshore phase of the supergiant South Pars gas field development programme by the end of September as it seeks to boost gas availability.
Speaking to the official state energy media outlet Shana, the newly appointed CEO of Petropars, Seyed Shamsedin Mousavi, said that the first part of South Pars 11 (SP11) would be launched before the second quarter of the next Iranian calendar year, which will end on September 22.
The update comes amid a major gas production push by Tehran, which is aiming to significantly increase supplies to cater to rampant demand.
Mousavi’s predecessor, Hamidreza Masoudi, said last month that the implementation of two new contracts for an offshore pipeline and installation work at the SPD11B platform would speed up the offshore development.
The overall South Pars development includes 37 platforms across the field’s 24 phases to produce 700mn cubic metres per day at present of Iran’s roughly 1bn cubic metre per day total. Tehran is aiming to increase output from South Pars to 1 bcm per day as quickly as possible but requires significant investment to maintain and add to production. An additional 50,000 barrels per
59 IRAN Country Report February 2022 www.intellinews.com