Nouroddin Shahnazizadeh, the managing director of the Petroleum Development and Engineering Company of Iran, told the domestic media that the leading European bidders for the project include Total (France), Shell (UK/Hollande), Eni (Italy), Wintershall (Germany), Rosneft (Russia), OMV (Austria) and Maersk (Denmark).

Shahnazizadeh added that several Asian companies including CNPC and Sinopec (China), ONGC (India), Pertamina (Indonesia), Petronas (Malaysia) and PTTP (Thailand) would also participate in a tender over South Azadegan.

The official said officials from the bidding companies had visited Iran for three days to become fully aware about the conditions of the project. Almost a dozen of them, he added, had been even taken to visit the project site.

Nevertheless, Shahnazizadeh did not indicate when the tender over South Azadegan would be held.

Iran has repeatedly postponed the tender over the giant field which it jointly shares with Iraq.

Reuters quoted an unnamed Iranian official as saying in June that the bidding over the project had been delayed by another few months.

This, the unnamed official told Reuters, was meant to allow energy companies more time to study the field.

Iran discovered Azadegan oil field in 1999 in what was the country’s biggest oil find in decades. The country accordingly teamed up with Inpex to push the project toward 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.

The media reported in 2014 that Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh had sidelined CNPC from South Azadegan due to its protracted delays in developing the field.

South Azadegan is believed to hold an in-place oil reserve of about 33.2 billion barrels and its recoverable resources estimated at about 5.2 billion barrels.

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The first major Western energy investment since sanctions against Tehran were lifted will cost up to $5 billion, with production expected to start within 40 months, an Oil Ministry source said, Reuters reported.

The US and other world powers lifted sanctions after the country pledged to roll back its nuclear program.

With the 20-year deal, Total is now returning to Iran, where it first began operating in the 1990s. Total CEO Patrick Pouyanné said in a statement on Monday that the investment would be “in strict compliance with applicable national and international laws”.

The US still has restrictions in place that block most American companies from investing in Iran. And some Western companies have been reluctant to jump in since Iran still faces sanctions that prevent firms from transacting with Iran in US dollars.

Total estimates the first phase of the project will cost around $2 billion. It is taking a 50.1 percent stake in the South Pars project. CNPC will own 30 percent while the other 19.9 percent will go to Petropars.

The project will have a production capacity of two billion cubic feet per day, or 400,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day including condensate, according to Total.

Iran’s Oil Ministry predicts the project will eventually produce gas products worth $54 billion based on current prices. The gas will start flowing into the Iranian market in 2021.

Iran has significantly ramped up its energy production since the sanctions were relaxed.

Figures from OPEC show Iran has boosted its daily crude oil production by more than 33 percent since 2015.

Iran sits on nine percent of the world’s proven oil reserves and 18 percent of the planet’s natural gas, according to data from BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy.

Iran and Qatar share the South Pars field.

Iran has signed a flurry of deals with Western companies over the past year since the easing of international sanctions on Tehran after an accord was reached over its nuclear program.

Iran needs foreign investment to repair and upgrade its oil and gas fields. It also seeks the transfer of technology to its oil industry after a decade of sanctions.

Iran has named 34 companies from over a dozen countries as being eligible to bid for oil and gas projects using the new, less restrictive contract model.

The firms include Shell, France’s Total, Italy’s Eni, Malaysia’s Petronas and Russia’s Gazprom and Lukoil, as well as companies from China, Austria, Japan and other countries.

Russia’s Zarubezhneft signed an MoU to conduct feasibility studies on two joint fields in the west of the country.

Norway‘s International Aker Solutions Company signed an MoU to modernize Iran’s oil industry.

In May 2016, Austria’s OMV signed an MoU for projects in the Zagros area in western Iran and the Fars field in the south.

South Korean Daewoo Engineering and Construction (Daewoo E&C) signed an MoU to construct an oil refinery in Bandar Jask, on the southern coast of Iran.

Italy’s Saipem signed MoUs to cooperate on pipeline projects, upgrading of refineries and development of Tous gas field in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi.

Norwegian oil and gas company DNO said it was the second Western energy company after Total to sign a deal with Iran under which it agreed to study the development of the Changuleh oilfield in western Iran.

Lukoil, Russia’s second biggest oil producer, hopes to reach a decision on developing two new oilfields in Iran.

Germany’s Siemens AG signed an MoU in May to overhaul equipment and facilities at Iran’s oil operations and refineries.

BASF’s Wintershall oil and gas exploration subsidiary signed an MoU with the National Iranian Oil Company in April 2016.

President Rouhani:
Developing South Pars Phase 11 not only an economic contract, but also a scientific, technological, management cooperation

President Rouhani met with the Chairman and CEO of France’s Total company and described South Pars region as an important centre for developing international cooperation with Iran in the field of energy-technology.

In the meeting that was held on Monday in Tehran, Dr Rouhani told Total’s Patrick Pouyanné: “Due to the good potentials and hard-working young men in Iran, the contract of developing Phase 11 of South Pars is not only an economic one, but also a scientific, technological and management cooperation”.

Total CEO: We seek a long-term cooperation with Iran

“The Islamic Republic of Iran and France have always had good relations and cooperation with each other,” he continued saying.

Referring to France’s position in economy and energy technology, he added: “The signing and execution of this contract will be a significant step in development of economic and technological cooperation between the two countries”.

Stating that the 11th administration has attempted to finalise the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to clear the path for economic cooperation between major companies and Iran, the President said: “Fortunately, this political will from the Iranian side and among P5+1 countries paved the way for this agreements with Total”.

President also referred to his Europe and France visit after the signing of JCPOA, adding: “In Paris, there was a good political will among the authorities of both countries to develop cooperation and important agreements were signed between the two countries to deepen ties and cooperation”.

“It is our policy to cooperate with major companies such as Total,” said Dr Rouhani, adding: “Currently, projects in gas and oil worth roughly $200bn are ready to be invested on and major foreign companies can cooperate in these projects”.

“We must work hard to achieve peace and stability in the region serving economic progress and development of the region, because scientific and developmental cooperation can help us combat ignorance and poverty as the bedrocks of terrorism expansion,” he continued.

The President also expressed hope that with the new agreements and cooperation in the field of gas, oil and petrochemicals, Iran and France take considerable steps in developing ties.

During the meeting, the Chairman and CEO of France’s Total company Patrick Pouyanné also expressed happiness over meeting the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and described the contract as a very important one, saying: “Today, we are very happy that we could finalise and execute the contract with the help of the authorities of the two countries”.

Stating that the JCPOA agreement has paved the way for further development of relations between European countries and Iran, he said: “We are optimistic about our cooperation with Iranian companies”.

“We seek a long-term cooperation with Iran,” continued Pouyanné.

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Each consignment, Qamsari added, comprises around one million barrels of oil.

The official added that the sales to the two companies had been conduct through spot contracts.

Qamsari further underlined that Iran expected to increase oil sales to Shell and BP in the near future through more spot contracts.

He added that talks were also underway with both companies on long-term sales deals.

Qamsari said that Iran’s average 2016 oil exports stood at around two million barrels per day.

Iranian media reported that the country’s current crude oil production was close to four million barrels per day — almost the same as before sanctions were imposed against the country in 2011.

Iran exports the bulk of its crude oil to Asian consumers including India, China, South Korea and Japan.

Figures released earlier this week showed that Iran’s oil exports to Asian clients had doubled in November compared to the figure for the same period last year.

A report by Reuters to the same effect showed that the four major Asian consumers of Iran’s oil had imported a total of 1.94 million barrels per day of oil from the country in November. The figure, the report added, was 117 percent higher than the amount for last year.

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Following the inking of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for conducting developmental studies in Azadegan oil field with France’s Total, Britain’s Royal Dutch Shell and Inpex Corporation of Japan, a cooperation agreement will be also inked in the current week between the largest Malaysian oil firm PETRONAS and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to carry out similar studies in Iran’s joint oil field with Iraq.

Moreover, NIOC will also sign into another deal with the Malaysian side in order to perform studies for boosting recovery factor in Cheshmeh Khosh field.

In recent months, NIOC has sealed several MoUs with Austria’s OMV and Gazprom of Russia aiming to increase recovery factor of Cheshmeh Khosh in the west of Iran.

The accord between NIOC and PETRONAS is scheduled to be signed on Wednesday in Tehran between officials of the two oil companies.

On the sidelines of his meeting with Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Mustafa Muhammad, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said Iran welcomes arrival of Malaysian firms, Petronas in particular, since they hold a long history of relations with the country’s oil industry.

Prior to sanction years, the bulk of cooperation between National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Malaysia pertained to sales and exports of crude oil as Iran was deploying a daily average of 50 to 60 thousand barrels of crude oil to Malaysia’s PETRONAS under spot contracts, he continued.

One of NIOC’s most significant deals with Petronas was over the developmental project of South Pars Phase 11 which was supposed to be accomplished in collaboration with France’s Total and Repsol S.A. of Spain though the agreement was violated as a result of international sanctions against Iran.

Despite having had only a few years of activity in the oil and gas industry, PETRONAS remains among rare oil and gas companies who enjoy functionality and operational teams in both upstream and downstream oil sectors.

The Malaysian oil and gas company is currently active in numerous fields including oil and gas refining, construction of pipelines, LNG transfer, gasoline stations management, manufacturing and marketing of petrochemicals and chemicals, exploration, exploitation, drilling, production and storage of crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas.

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Directors of National Iranian Gas Export Company and senior directors of Oman Ministry of Petroleum met with the envoys of French Total, British Royal Dutch shell and KOGAS are reportedly discussing Iranian project for gas exports to Oman.

Based on a 2013 deal between Iran and Oman, Iran will export 1.5 billion cubic feet/day of gas to Oman through a Persian Gulf seabed pipeline. Regarding its importance, the project will boost Iran-Oman ties and energy ties in the Middle East.

Iranian and Omani ministers of petroleum late August signed a Memorandum of Understanding for natural gas exports with regards to the emphasis of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Omani King Qaboos.

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Director of Investment at National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Hossein Alimorad pointed to Shell’s plan to return to Iran adding “following the tough sanctions against Iran, the Anglo-Dutch multinational oil and gas company halted its activities in Iran while the signing of a preliminary contract with NPC has paved the path for return of Shell to the Iranian market.”

“No details have been included in the draft contract as it would restrict the agreement,” highlighted the official noting that both sides are allowed to define areas of mutual cooperation.

The official went on to note that Shell held ties with Iran in Gas to liquids (GTL) refinery process before sanction years expressing hope that signing the primary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NPC and Shell will deal with the unfinished project of producing natural gas products.

Managing Director of the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Marzieh Shah-Daei and President of Department for Iran Affairs in Royal Dutch Shell Hans Nijkamp inked an MoU on October 09 at the presence of Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Amir Hossein Zamaninia, the Netherland’s Ambassador to Tehran Susanna Terstal and Deputy Head of British Mission in Iran Ben Fender.

Iran’s Zamaninia estimated that petrochemical project will become operational prior to oil and gas projects thanks to the wisdom of activists present in the industry.

Also at the MoU signing ceremony, Hans Nijkamp expressed shell’s willingness to conduct joint venture projects with NPC in petrochemical industry.

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Seyyed Mohsen Ghamsari touched upon resumption of oil exports to British firms in the post-JCPOA era saying “so far, two crude oil and gas condensate cargos have been sold to two companies in the UK.”

Executive director for international affairs at National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) emphasized that the two cargos have been exported to Britain under single-shipment contracts; “negotiations are still in progress with companies like Shell or BP to ink long-term oil sale agreements.”

The official further stressed that a single cargo of gas condensate has been recently sold to BP asserting “under the spot contract, one million barrels of Iranian gas condensate were delivered to the British company.”

“Talks have also begun with Royal Dutch Shell Oil industry company over long-term sales of crude oil though no final agreement has been reached yet,” stated Ghamsari.

He recalled that mechanism and volume of oil sales within long-term deals are still being negotiated with Shell; “NIOC will continue negotiations with the British firm in order to finalize the contracts.”

In July, Shell imported 130,000 tons of Iranian crude from Kharg Island on 8 July to continental Europe with the destination being Rotterdam of the Netherlands.

Iran’s NIOC had earlier subjected new orders by Shell to clearing its debts for previous purchases and it was in April that the Iranian company confirmed clearance of the 2.8-billion-dollar debt by the Anglo-Dutch company.

Earlier this year, Ghamsari had maintained that Shell owns refineries or shares of refineries in various world countries adding “the possibility exists for Shell to transfer a portion of the purchased crude to Germany.”/MNA

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