Bloomberg, 16 April 2010 — Iran’s production of natural gas is not expected to rise for the next three years because development of upstream gas fields is time-consuming, the state- run Mehr news agency reported, citing Javad Owji, the Persian Gulf nation’s deputy oil minister.

Owji said the domestic price of gas should increase in order to control consumption, Mehr said. Iran’s domestic use rose 12 percent in the year that ended March 20, Owji said.