The Islamic Republic of Iran has commenced exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to three African countries.

Esmaeel Hasham Firouz, the export-import director of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC), has told Mehr news agency that Iran has begun to ship excess natural gas supplies as LNG to Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania.

He said the shipments are done using LNG ISO tank containers.

The official added that last year Iran exported over 127,000 tons of LNG and that the figure would rise this year.

Hasham Firouz�said currently Pakistan and Afghanistan are the main clients of Iranian LNG.

In recent years, Iran has been trying to have a larger share of the global LNG market.

The National Iranian Gas Exports Company (NIGEC) has for some time been in negotiations with some foreign firms to help develop the country�s LNG sector.

The German industrial group, Linde, has already offered to help Iran complete its LNG projects which include LNG Pars and LNG Persian.

The projects had been awarded to Royal Dutch Shell, Spain�s Repsol and France�s Total to produce 40 million metric tons of LNG a year for exports, but the three abandoned them in 2011 when Iran came under sanctions.

Iran has also held talks with France, Germany and Belgium for construction of LNG tankers.

The country has the world�s second largest proven gas reserves after Russia, with a potential to become a top producer. It plans to build a capacity to export 40 million metric tons of LNG a year.

By Press TV