Iraq’s Ministry of Oil announced the start of pilot operations at the expanded Nasiriyah gas depot in Dhi Qar Governorate, adding 5,000 cubic meters of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage capacity, equivalent to roughly 2,500 metric tons. The expansion forms part of the federal government’s energy infrastructure program designed to secure domestic fuel supplies and optimize distribution logistics across southern Iraq.
The project reinforces the country’s strategic storage network, ensuring steady LPG supplies for household cooking and autogas vehicles throughout Dhi Qar while providing supply flexibility to support neighboring provinces. Replacing highway tanker trucks with dedicated direct feeding pipelines will lower transport expenses, improve delivery safety, and cut logistical bottlenecks.
Strategic Capabilities and Storage Metrics of the Nasiriyah Gas Depot
Deputy Minister of Oil for Gas Affairs Izzat Saber Ismail inspected the project site alongside senior leadership from the South Gas Company and the Gas Filling and Services Company to review pre-commissioning procedures. The facility features two primary storage tanks with a combined capacity of 5,000 cubic meters, engineered to buffer regional supply during seasonal demand spikes.
Ismail explained that the depot receives bulk LPG directly from South Gas Company through a dedicated transmission pipeline delivering between 300 and 400 tons per day. This intake comfortably covers Dhi Qar’s total provincial consumption of 250 to 350 tons daily, allowing surplus volumes to replenish provincial reserves and assist adjacent governorates.
Operational and Economic Advantages of the Expanded Depot
– Pipeline Delivery: Transitioning from road tankers to fixed pipelines cuts haulage costs and lowers highway transit hazards.
– Provincial Self-Sufficiency: Guarantees comprehensive local coverage for household cooking gas and automotive LPG fuel.
– Bottling Plant Integration: Supplies state-owned and private bottling plants producing 25,000 to 30,000 cylinders daily (approx. 300 tons).
– Reserve Flexibility: Maintains secure storage margins to prevent local fuel shortages during peak consumption periods.
Timeline for Commercial Commissioning and Field Gas Integration
The project is currently undergoing final mechanical coupling, automated safety programming, and hydrostatic pressure testing, with full commercial operations scheduled to commence within the next one to two months. The operational rollout adheres to rigorous industrial safety protocols and technical standards set by the ministry.
In parallel with storage expansion, Ismail highlighted steady progress on the associated gas capture project across the Nasiriyah and Gharraf oil fields, which is designed to process 200 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) by mid-2028. That initiative aims to eliminate routine flaring while recovering dry gas for power plants and extracting commercial volumes of LPG and condensates.
Strategic Objectives for Upstream Gas Monetization
– Power Generation Support: Pipelining dry gas directly into national thermal generation facilities.
– LPG Production: Maximizing domestic propane and butane extraction to eliminate fuel import requirements.
– Valuable Condensates: Recovering hydrocarbon condensates for export and local refining feedstock.
– Environmental Compliance: Ending routine associated gas flaring to meet sovereign emissions-reduction targets.
Engineering Execution and Local Operational Readiness
Director General of the Gas Filling and Services Company, Haitham Ibrahim, noted that commissioning the Nasiriyah facility provides substantial operational flexibility to receive, store, and distribute output from regional gas processing plants.
Director of the Dhi Qar Gas Branch, Mohannad Mankhi, confirmed that local technical teams have completed critical line connections and instrumentation tests. The increased storage buffer will allow provincial distribution centers to run uninterrupted distribution schedules year-round.
Conclusion:
The commissioning of the Nasiriyah gas depot represents an important milestone in modernizing Iraq’s domestic energy distribution network. By combining expanded strategic storage, pipeline integration, and ongoing associated gas processing projects in Dhi Qar, the Ministry of Oil continues to strengthen domestic energy security and improve infrastructure efficiency.
