BRUSSELS -- The International Energy Agency (IEA) Wednesday predicted that the Islamic Republic of Iran will be a major gas supplier to the EU in the future.

Fatih Birol, IEA's chief economist, in a press conference in Brussels Wednesday said Iran has one of the biggest gas reserves in the world.

Russia and Iran together possess 52 percent of the world's gas reserves, Birol said while presenting the IEA's `World Energy Outlook 2002' to the press.

"Iran will be a major gas supplier in the future," stressed Birol who is the main author of the 530-page study.

The energy expert said that an existing gas pipeline between Iran and Turkey can be extended to Europe.

Birol, who is a Turk himself, said discussions are going on in the European Commission to support the project.

The study forecasts that net imports of gas in the EU will expand from the current 44 percent to 81 percent of total gas supply in 2030.

The share of net imports in the EU's oil supply will climb from 73 percent in 2000 to 93 percent in 2030.

Production of oil and gas will be increasingly concentrated in a few states -- OPEC members, especially in the Middle East--and Russia. Replying to a question on the effect on the oil price in case of a military strike on Iraq, Birol said" "We do not expect any major turmoil in the oil market."

He explained that Iraq has been an "on and off" oil supplier since several years now and the loss of Iraqi oil will not make fundamental changes on the market.

Major oil producers have said that they will make up for any shortages, he added. On the question of substituting the dollar with the euro for oil price fixing, Briol said it is "not a very realistic option in the near future."

The Paris-based IEA was established in 1974 within the framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to implement an international energy program. It has 26 members which includes all 15 EU states.

thr 036 eu-iran-energy /eco/ iea: iran to be a major gas supplier to eu brussels, oct 2, irna -- the international energy agency (iea) wednesday predicted that the islamic republic of iran will be a major gas supplier to the eu in the future.

fatih birol, iea's chief economist, in a press conference in brussels wednesday said iran has one of the biggest gas reserves in the world.

russia and iran together possess 52 percent of the world's gas reserves, birol said while presenting the iea's `world energy outlook 2002' to the press.

"iran will be a major gas supplier in the future," stressed birol who is the main author of the 530-page study.

the energy expert said that an existing gas pipeline between iran and turkey can be extended to europe.

birol, who is a turk himself, said discussions are going on in the european commission to support the project.

the study forecasts that net imports of gas in the eu will expand from the current 44 percent to 81 percent of total gas supply in 2030.

the share of net imports in the eu's oil supply will climb from 73 percent in 2000 to 93 percent in 2030.

production of oil and gas will be increasingly concentrated in a few states--opec members, especially in the middle east--and russia. replying to a question on the effect on the oil price in case of a military strike on iraq, birol said" "we do not expect any major turmoil in the oil market."

he explained that iraq has been an "on and off" oil supplier since several years now and the loss of iraqi oil will not make fundamental changes on the market.

major oil producers have said that they will make up for any shortages, he added. on the question of substituting the dollar with the euro for oil price fixing, briol said it is "not a very realistic option in the near future."

the paris-based iea was established in 1974 within the framework of the organization for economic cooperation and development (oecd) to implement an international energy program. it has 26 members which includes all 15 eu states.