Iran Eyes Major Energy Deals with Russia
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is planning to sign new agreements with Russian energy companies by mid-December, an official said.
"We hope that by the second half of December, we are ready to sign major agreements with these six Russian companies," Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Amir Zamaninia said Thursday, Sputnik reported.
Speaking during the Russia-Iranian energy forum, he added that the companies interested in exploring Iran's energy reserves are Gazprom, Rosneft, LUKoil, Gazpromneft, Tatneft, Zarubezhneft.
Tehran is set to host the next Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation on December 13.
"We are prepared as of today to hold a workshop [for Russian energy companies] in Tehran to go over the financial model, technical model of a new contract. We can hold it as early as you are prepared… And then engage in a discussion of coming up with an agreement," Zamaninia stated.
The Russian Energy Ministry expects detailed discussions of oil and gas cooperation with Iran at next month's intergovernmental commission, Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Kirill Molodtsov said Thursday.
"We expect from the December event, among other things… a discussion of detailed points of contact between the interests of Russian and Iranian oil and gas companies," Molodtsov said at the forum.
Tehran will host the next Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation on December 13, the ministry said Wednesday. "Today's event... is primarily a preparation for the forthcoming intergovernmental commission… with the aim of a detailed and comprehensive study and convergence of the government and business officials' positions," Molodtsov added.
He stressed that Russian companies, Rosneft, Gazprom Neft, Zarubezhneft, Gazprom and LUKoil among them, are interested in onshore and offshore hydrocarbon exploration, development and production projects in Iran.
