TEHRAN-- Gas production in Iran will reach 93.6 billion cubic meters in the next two years from 57.7 billion cubic meters in 1999, showing 60 percent increase, IRNA reported.

Public Relations Department at Oil Ministry said gas purification and dehumidation, too, will reach 345 million cubic meters from 183.2 million cubic meters in the period.

It said the extent of pipelines laid will rise to 17,850 kilometers from 12,900 kilometers and the area covered by gas networks will increase to 69,000 square kilometers from 50,916 square kilometers.

Moreover, number of households supplied with natural gas will rise to 4,340,000 in the next two years from 3,040,000 in 1999.

In addition, the number of families benefiting from gas would rise to 8,325,000 from 5,850,000 and the average daily gas consumption would rise to 244 million cubic meters from 157.7 million cubic meters in the next two years.