A Critical Evaluation of Iranian Natural Gas Resources

Nowadays, the world energy focus is shifting towards natural gas for power and heat generation as a substitute for coal and oil. Approximately 60% of world natural gas reserves are mainly concentrated in Russia, Iran, and Qatar. Iran will play a main role in the supply of world natural gas demand, if its natural gas fields can be developed effectively. In spite of huge natural gas reserves, Iran's natural gas production has not grown sufficiently. This study summarizes Iranian natural gas reserves, production, transportation and recent geopolitical events relating to the Iranian natural gas industry and how the Iranian government politics in development of its natural gas industry offer important signs to understand Iran's view on its natural gas resource management and to predict Iran's action in the future. The aim of this study is to discuss the problems and possible solutions to the problems of the Iranian natural gas industry.