TEHRAN, June 25 (Shana) � Managing director of Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) Ali Akbar Shabanpour said Iran will add 100 million cubic meters per day to its gas recover from the South Pars gas field by the end of the current Iranian calendar year to March 20 2017, adding Iran's natural gas recovery from the field has crossed 431 million cubic meters per day.

Shabanpour's remarks came following the loading operation of Platform 18B, weighing 2,700 tons, for phases 17&18 on Thursday, June 23.

He said the operation was a sensitive and specialized one which was made possible by Iranian experts and contractors.

Platforms 17B and 18B were primarily being considered for use at phase 14 of the gas field but given the priority of phases 17 and 18, the structures were redesigned for usage in the relevant phases.

The POGC official added that installation of platform 18B will be complete by August.

He added that 11 wells belonging to the platform are drilled and are ready for production.

Once operational, the platform will recover 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas every day.

By SHANA