Zanganeh: Iran ready to negotiate with US companies on oil, gas
Iran’s oil minister said US President Donald Trump should allow American oil firms to do business in the Islamic Republic. Bijan Namdar Zanganeh’s comments on Tuesday came as Americans and US companies are still barred from directly doing business with Iran. That’s even with the 2015 nuclear deal being in place, reported IRNA.
He added, “If they want to, we are ready to negotiate with American companies about development of oil and gas resources.
“We have not closed doors” to American companies.
Trump last week refused to recertify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal with world powers, and criticized Europeans for participating in Iran’s energy projects.
French oil giant Total SA has entered the Iranian market following the deal.
Iran has signed a flurry of deals with Western companies over the past year since the easing of international sanctions on Tehran after an accord was reached over its nuclear program.
Iran needs foreign investment to repair and upgrade its oil and gas fields. It also seeks the transfer of technology to its oil industry after a decade of sanctions.
In November 2016, France’s Total became the first oil major to sign a big deal with Tehran since the lifting of sanctions and agreed to help it develop the world’s largest gas field, South Pars.
Shell signed a provisional deal in December to develop Iranian oil and gas fields South Azadegan, Yadavaran and Kish in December 2016.
Iran has named 29 companies from more than a dozen countries as being eligible to bid for oil and gas projects using the new, less restrictive contract model.
The firms include Shell, France’s Total, Italy’s Eni, Malaysia’s Petronas and Russia’s Gazprom and Lukoil, as well as companies from China, Austria, Japan and other countries.
Russia’s Zarubezhneft signed an MOU to conduct feasibility studies on two joint fields in the west of the country.
Norway’s International Aker Solutions Company signed an MOU to modernize Iran’s oil industry.
In May 2016, Austria’s OMV signed an MOU for projects in the Zagros area in western Iran and the Fars field in the south.
South Korean Daewoo Engineering and Construction (Daewoo E&C) signed an MOU to construct an oil refinery in Bandar Jask, on the southern coast of Iran.
Italy’s Saipem signed Mous to cooperate on pipeline projects, upgrading of refineries and development of Tous gas field in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi.
Norwegian oil and gas company DNO said it was the second Western energy company after Total to sign a deal with Iran under which it agreed to study the development of the Changuleh oilfield in western Iran.
Lukoil, Russia’s second biggest oil producer, hopes to reach a decision on developing two new oilfields in Iran.
Germany’s Siemens AG signed an MOU in May to overhaul equipment and facilities at Iran’s oil operations and refineries.
BASF’S Wintershall oil and gas exploration subsidiary signed an MOU with the National Iranian Oil Company in April 2016.