28 June 2010
Iran's negotiations to finalize an oil-field deal with Russia's OAO Gazprom Neft (SIBN.RS) are in the final stage, a senior official at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said Friday.
Shana quoted Hojjatollah Ghanimifard, vice president in charge of investments at the National Iranian Oil Company, as saying that, "We hope to have a final decision soon."
"We are in the last stage" of negotiations and are hoping for "a good conclusion," he said.
In November Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russia's OAO Gazprom, signed a preliminary agreement with NIOC to help develop the Azar and Changouleh oil fields.
Iran has the world's third-largest proven oil reserves at nearly 138 billion barrels or over 10 percent of the world's total, according to BP's 2010 statistical review. Iran is also the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.
Door Open
Iran is leaving the door open for Royal Dutch Shell PLC to join a giant gas project but Repsol YPF has completely pulled out, Ghanimifard said. The statement comes after state-owned Pars Oil and Gas Company awarded contracts to develop phases 13 and 14 of the South Pars field to domestic companies after talks with Shell and Repsol failed.
Ghanimifard said the Anglo-Dutch company has been told to contact Pars Oil and Gas Company so "they will be introduced to contractors" with whom they could work. Shell declined to comment.
Ghanimifard said Repsol has "apologized" as "they cannot be in Persian LNG," the liquefied-natural-gas project tied to the phases.
A spokeswoman for Repsol said it "has formally informed the National Iranian Oil Company of its decision to discontinue its participation."
Ghanimifard said Shell and Repsol's decisions had nothing to do with sanctions. He said Repsol's pullout was tied to the financial crisis in Spain. It was "because of problems the country (Spain) cannot sort out," he claimed.
Iran's negotiations to finalize an oil-field deal with Russia's OAO Gazprom Neft (SIBN.RS) are in the final stage, a senior official at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said Friday.
Shana quoted Hojjatollah Ghanimifard, vice president in charge of investments at the National Iranian Oil Company, as saying that, "We hope to have a final decision soon."
"We are in the last stage" of negotiations and are hoping for "a good conclusion," he said.
In November Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russia's OAO Gazprom, signed a preliminary agreement with NIOC to help develop the Azar and Changouleh oil fields.
Iran has the world's third-largest proven oil reserves at nearly 138 billion barrels or over 10 percent of the world's total, according to BP's 2010 statistical review. Iran is also the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.
Door Open
Iran is leaving the door open for Royal Dutch Shell PLC to join a giant gas project but Repsol YPF has completely pulled out, Ghanimifard said. The statement comes after state-owned Pars Oil and Gas Company awarded contracts to develop phases 13 and 14 of the South Pars field to domestic companies after talks with Shell and Repsol failed.
Ghanimifard said the Anglo-Dutch company has been told to contact Pars Oil and Gas Company so "they will be introduced to contractors" with whom they could work. Shell declined to comment.
Ghanimifard said Repsol has "apologized" as "they cannot be in Persian LNG," the liquefied-natural-gas project tied to the phases.
A spokeswoman for Repsol said it "has formally informed the National Iranian Oil Company of its decision to discontinue its participation."
Ghanimifard said Shell and Repsol's decisions had nothing to do with sanctions. He said Repsol's pullout was tied to the financial crisis in Spain. It was "because of problems the country (Spain) cannot sort out," he claimed.
© Iran Daily 2010
