Foreign Firms Need to Have Iranian Partners for Operation in Iran

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The foreign companies interested in developing Iran`s oil fields should find an Iranian partner. Deputy Oil Minister Marziyeh Shahedayee said on Monday.
`We are negotiating with creditable international firms and the most important issue that we are trying to have them pick up an Iranian partner and build many of their equipment inside Iran.` Shahedayee was quoted by Iranian media as saying on Monday.
Asked about the date for the start of foreign firms` development operations in Iran. she said that talks are still underway between the two sides.
A senior Iranian official announced earlier this month that several leading oil and gas players have submitted the results of their studies over the development of Azadegan oilfield in the Southern parts of the country.
`The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) was already studying the studies presented by the foreign energy giants.` NIOC Managing Director Ali Kardor said.
Kardor said that the foreign companies included Total. Royal Dutch Shell. CNPC and Inpex. adding. `Several more had asked for more time to present their technical evaluations over Azadegan. but did not name them.`
Also in December. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh announced that the tender proceedings over the project – known as Iran’s biggest oil find in decades – had already started.
Zanganeh also said that if things proceed as normal. a deal over Azadegan was likely to be sealed before next summer.
Iran discovered Azadegan oil field in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khouzestan in 1999 in what was the country’s biggest oil find in decades.  The country accordingly teamed up with Inpex to push the project towards development.  However. the Japanese company later quit the project in what appeared to be the result of US sanctions against Iran.
The NIOC later divided the project into South Azadegan and North Azadegan and both were awarded to China’s CNPC when Iran’s former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) was in office.