Mahdi told Shana following a meeting with a top Iranian gas official that Baghdad will start taking delivery of 7 mcm/d of gas next year.
He said Iranian and Iraqi oil ministers agreed last month that a new pipeline be constructed for exporting gas from Iran to Iraq.
The Iraqi official said he discussed the construction of the Iraqi section of pipeline by Iranian contractors.
Mahdi said Iran will deliver 40 mcm/d of gas to Baghdad, adding that the pipeline to Basra has been agreed to carry 50 mcm/d.
