(June 2017) – Germany’s biggest oil and gas company Wintershall said it is studying a plan to collaborate with Russia’s energy giant Gazprom on projects in Iran.
The announcement was made by Thilo Wieland, a member of Wintershall board responsible for exploration and production in Russia, Libya and South America.
“Our partnership with Gazprom is based on trust, so we are open to possible joint projects,” Wieland told Rambler News website.
“If Iran provides an opportunity, we, of course, will thoroughly consider it,” he added, noting that Iran has considerable resources, and therefore is very interesting to Wintershall.
The announcement came as Iran has recently shown an extended favor to Gazprom, as well as other Russian energy firms.
Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said in late May that the Islamic Republic had signed a preliminary agreement with Gazprom on three major gas projects.
Zanganeh listed the projects as Farzad B, North Pars and Kish.
Wieland told Rambler News that Iran was part of Wintershall’s strategy for targeting key regions. He recalled that the company had signed a memorandum of understanding with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for certain projects — what he said was in line with the same strategy.
NIOC chief Ali Kardor said last September that Wintershall was among a slew of companies that had signed preliminary deals to study Iranian oil and gas project.
The details of the deals, he said, could not be disclosed due to the confidentiality of negotiations.
A subsidiary of BASF, Wintershall is Germany’s largest internationally active crude oil and natural gas producer.
It explores and produces oil and gas in Europe, North Africa, South America, Russia, and the Middle East.
It has been active for over 85 years and has a workforce in excess of about 2,000 employees from more than 40 nationalities.
Source » irandaily