Bahrain will restart talks with Iran to import natural gas after political tensions brought negotiations to a halt in February, a Bahraini paper reported yesterday, citing the Gulf state's senior oil official.
Bahrain, like its Gulf neighbours, has seen a rapid increase in natural gas consumption as its economy has grown with a petrodollar-fuelled boom in the region. The kingdom is looking to boost both domestic supply and imports.
"He revealed Bahrain's intention to resume negotiations with Iran to import natural gas, adding that talks would begin again soon," the daily Aa Waqt said, without quoting the head of
National Oil and Gas Authority Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza. Bahrain suspended the talks after an Iranian official made comments that appeared to question the country's sovereignty.
Bahrain has held talks with Iran and Gulf Arab neighbour Qatar on importing one billion cubic feet per day (cfd) of natural gas.
The kingdom consumed 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas per day in 2007 and expects consumption to rise to two billion cubic feet per day in about 10 years.
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