Russia, Iran To Boost Energy Cooperation
NEFTE Compass, 03.12.2009
Russia and Iran agreed to step up energy cooperation during a meeting in Tehran of a joint commission headed by Russian energy ministry Sergei Shmatko and Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
"We have discussed lots of questions and share an opinion that Russian-Iranian oil and gas cooperation is very significant at both bilateral and international levels," the Russian energy minister added after talks with Iranian counterpart Massoud Mirkazemi. But he said that the current level of cooperation is insufficient.
The two sides agreed to set up a working group that should within a month prepare a "road map" for energy cooperation. Shmatko said it is difficult for Russian companies to expand their presence in Iran and promised them government support. Many Western firms have been deterred from doing business with Iran by US sanctions.
Shmatko said a consortium similar to the one Russian companies set up for upstream projects in Venezuela could be established for oil projects in Iran. Russia's Gazprom Neft and National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) have recently signed a memorandum of understanding on joint development of Iran's Azar and Shangule oil fields (NC Nov.12,p6).
On the gas front, Moscow and Tehran discussed Gazprom's participation in the giant South Pars project. "Iran has a positive attitude towards cooperation with Russia on LNG projects," Shmatko said, adding that cooperation is also possible in third countries.
Other Russian firms that want to work in Iran include petrochemicals company Sibur Holding and the state's largest oil and gas construction firm, Stroytransgaz, Shmatko said.
