MOSCOW, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - Iran will soon issue a tender on constructing an oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf, Deputy Oil Minister Nureddin Shahnazizadeh announced at a conference in Moscow on Tuesday.
The 970-mile pipeline project at a cost of $2 billion would transport one million barrels per day from the Caspian port of Neka to Jask in the Gulf of Oman, the deputy minister said.
"We have already completed the groundwork for the project and will soon announce an international tender," Shahnazizadeh said. "I invite international companies, including Russian companies, to participate in the project."
Iran hopes the pipeline will start pumping oil in 2012.
According to Shahnazizadeh, Iran's five-year plan envisages the construction of seven new oil refineries in the country, the construction of a pipeline to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan to the Persian Gulf, launching oil extraction from the West Korond field, and developing new oil fields.
