TEHRAN, August 1. /TASS/. Iran plans to increase gas exports to 200 mln cubic meters per day in the near future, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on Monday.

"The Oil Ministry of the country plans in the near future to increase gas exports to the level of 200 mln cubic meters per day. Iranian exports is carried out by pipeline to neighboring countries, as well as through implementation of the LNG project," the minister said.

According to him, in recent years, Iran was steadily increasing gas production, the South Pars field in the Persian Gulf is rapidly developing.

"This year we plan to put into operation 4 sites in South Pars in addition to already existing sites. 10 years ago, we produced around 41 bln cubic meters per year at this field, this year we expect to get 236 bln cubic meters, next year - to exceed 400 bln cubic meters," Zanganeh said.

South Pars gas field is one of the largest independent gas reservoirs in the world on the border between Iran and Qatar in the Persian Gulf. The field covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers.