No word from Total on exiting South Pars: Zanganeh
French energy giant Total has not announced anything about walking away from the South Pars Gas Field development project due to Washington’s exit from Iran nuclear deal, said Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh.
According to IRNA, it was earlier announced that Total will continue to cooperate in the development of Phase 11 of Iran’s giant South Pars Gas Field.
Zanganeh told reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with visiting Turkmen Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow that the two countries are set to settle their gas disputes through negotiations.
He described his meeting with Meredow, which was mainly focused on fostering mutual cooperation in oil and gas fields, as positive.
Thanks to the positive stance of Iranian and Turkmen presidents on continuation of mutual cooperation, he said, such issues would be discussed by experts of the two countries.
He added that Iran has resumed a scheme that involves swapping Turkmenistan’s natural gas bound for Azerbaijan since March 21, 2018.
Mohammad Meshkinfam, the managing director of Pars Oil and Gas Company said on Wednesday that that Total has invested $90 million in the project.
Referring to US withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal, the official said, “Our relations with Total are based on contract and mutual respect and I don’t think we will have any problem in this regard.”
Given the position of European Union on US exist from Iran nuclear deal, there will be no problem about the development of Phase 11 and Total will continue with its activities in Phase 11, he stated.
Necessary measures have been taken by Total and other partners in the development of Phase 11, Meshkinfam said.
“Development of Phase 11 is a priority for us and we will definitely develop it,” he said, adding, “If Total remains [with us], we will continue with it, but if it walks away from the development of this phase, China’s CNPC will be our number one choice.”