Iran and Oman have finalised the route to lay a subsea pipeline for the export of natural gas from the Islamic republic, according to Iranian media reports. Fars News Agency reported on Saturday that Tehran and Muscat finalised the proposed route after studying four possible paths. The route was reportedly finalised by experts from both countries in a recent meeting in Tehran, a Press TV report said. It said the 175km-long pipeline could plunge as deep as 290m before reaching Oman’s shores. Reports said Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Co (IOEC) will complete studies for the offshore section of the project by September this year. The reports also said a South Korean company has announced readiness to carry out the offshore pipeline work of the project and has even told Iran that it is ready to fund the whole operations. Iran and Oman have signed basic agreements for 28mn m3 of gas daily. Almost a third of the gas will be used in spare liquefaction facilities of Oman’s Qalhat plant and the rest will be consumed in the sultanate’s domestic market. (Muscat Daily)