The recent lifting of sanctions from Iran will lead to the emergence of another major seller in the gas market. Let’s remember, which countries are leaders in gas production? In the current world politics, this information is more relevant than ever.
10. Algeria | Gas reserves: 4.5 trillion cubic meters
Algeria ranks 10th in the world’s gas production. The amount of gas in this North African country is 2.5% of the world's reserves. And half of this number is mined at the Hassi R’Mey field, located in the south-east of the country. Gas producers such as Total and Shell have been operating in this country for decades.
Three plants with 15 production lines are engaged in gas production. Two of them are located in the city of Arzev and one in the city of Skikda.
9. Nigeria | Gas reserves: 5.1 trillion cubic meters
This country ranks first in gas production on the African continent. She is also a member of OPEC. And this despite the fact that in Nigeria there is a high level of corruption, political instability, a weak economy and poorly developed infrastructure. Nigeria is a very gas-dependent country, because the profits from its exports make up 95% of its foreign exchange earnings. In 2010, Nigeria became a leader in the export of liquefied natural gas. After all, the volume of this exported natural resource is 21.9 million tons.
8. Venezuela | Gas reserves: 5.6 trillion cubic meters
The gas reserves of this country, which occupies 8th place in the list of leaders in mining, account for 2.9% of the world. But most of them are gas associated with oil. Most of the deposits are located in Norte De Pario (an area north of Trinidad and Tobago). But the gas sector in Venezuela is not very developed, which hinders its development. The main gas pipelines are owned by PDVSA GAS.
7. UAE | Gas reserves: 6.1 trillion cubic meters
Most of the country's gas reserves are located in its capital, Dubai. There are oil fields, there is a gas reserve "Huff". In 1977, the first liquefied natural gas plant by ADGAS was built in the UAE. Currently, he is engaged in the processing of natural gas from all oil fields of the country, which occupies 7th place in the list of leaders in the extraction of this mineral.
6. Saudi Arabia | Gas reserves: 8.2 trillion cubic meters
All oil and gas fields belong to the only state-owned company in the country - Saudi Aramco. She is a monopolist in this area. In total, Saudi Arabia has more than 70 deposits located in 8 regions of the country. Currently, there is an accelerated rate of gas production. This is due to the diversification of the economy. The country, which is one of the leaders in the extraction of this natural resource, plans to increase gas to the world market.
As for the mixed oil and gas fields found back in the late 20th century, they are located in the oil fields of Kirkuk. Net deposits, which make up 1/5 of all the country's reserves, are located on the Gavar oil field.
5. USA | Gas reserves: 9.8 trillion cubic meters
More than half of this country's gas reserves are located in just four states: Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Oklahoma. Also, about 5% of the mineral is taken from the continental shelf, which is under the jurisdiction of the US government. The main gas companies in the country, which occupies the middle of the top leaders in gas production, are: BP, ExxonMobil.
4. Turkmenistan | Gas reserves: 17.5 trillion cubic meters
Natural gas is an integral part of the economy of Turkmenistan, which is one of the leaders in the extraction of this mineral. After all, most of the country's reserves go to its export. All gas is produced in one field - Galkynysh. According to experts, it contains more than 25 trillion cubic meters.
A few years ago, a Nabucco pipe project was planned. But he died through the fault of the government. And he had high hopes.
3. Qatar | Gas reserves: 24.5 trillion cubic meters
All liquefied gas plants are located in the same city of Qatar - Ras Laffan. The first plant was built in 1996, and gas supplies began a year later. Almost 85% of the total gas produced is supplied to the European, Asian and North American markets. This became possible due to the geographic location of the country, which took the bronze rating of the states that are leaders in gas production.
2. Russia | Gas reserves: 32.6 trillion cubic meters
Gas export is an important part of the Russian economy - the leader in production in this area. Natural resources are mined in Western Siberia (Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug), the Urals, the Lower Volga Region and the North Caucasus. Gas reserves account for more than 60% of all Russian resources.
Natural resources are transported through the Unified Gas Supply System and a gas pipeline network with a length of more than 140 thousand km.
The gas producer is the Gazprom monopolist, which provides 95% of the natural resource of all production in the country.
1. Iran | Gas reserves: 34 trillion cubic meters
All fields are located in the north of the country, the first gas producer in the world, and on the shelf off the Persian Gulf. Foreign (French, Chinese, Belarusian) investors who came to the country back in the late 90s work on the extraction of natural resources. True, they stopped their activities for a time when they imposed sanctions against Iran, but it seems that now they can return to the market again.
The authorities of the country plan to increase gas production to 1 billion cubic meters per day by 2017. All Iranian reserves account for 18% of the world.