SHANA � An Iranian deputy petroleum minister announced that Iran�s natural gas exports had increased by 3.6 billion cubic meters, or 26%, in the calendar year of 1398 which ended on March 19 compared to the preceding year.

According to the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Hassan Montazer Torbati, who is also the NIGC CEO, underlined registration of new records in the country�s gas production, transmission, distribution and exports in the previous Iranian calendar year.

He said the collective consumption of gas in the household, commercial, and non-major industrial sectors rose by 10 billion cubic meters, adding despite record new consumption levels, domestic and rural household subscribers' gas supply was never cut off last year.

He stated that in the last four months of last year, the average daily consumption of the household sector rose by 55 million cubic meters compared to the same period in 1397, adding: �Iran�s gas exports experienced a 26-percent jump in 1398 year-on-year.�

The NIGC CEO further added that a total of 270 bcm of gas was recovered from the country�s reserves last year, adding that construction and expanding the gas distribution network in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan to the city of Zahedan was one of NIGC�s priorities for the current Iranian calendar year which began on March 20.