Iran is planning to build a gas refinery on the southern Persian Gulf island of Qeshm in the near future, an energy official announced on Sunday.

"The refinery, with a production capacity of 80 million cubic feet of gas per day, will be built in the center of the country's energy zone," Heydar Yarveisi, the head of Qeshm Operational Zone at the National Iranian Offshore Oil Company (NIOOC), also told Fars News Agency. He explained that the development of 16 new oil and gas fields and production of 12,000 megawatts of electricity have been planned for Qeshm Island.

"Due to its geographical situation and proximity to the southern Persian Gulf littoral states and the strategic Hormuz Strait, Qeshm can turn into a hub for storing and exporting oil, gas and petrochemical products," Yarveisi added.

In September, NIOOC Managing Director Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh said Iran plans to build several gas power plants on Qeshm Island after developing Forouz B gas field in the Persian Gulf waters. Zirakchianzadeh said the project is aimed at generating 12,000 megawatts of electricity.