Iran to conduct new oil talks with Total, Shell

TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) – Iran is likely to launch a fresh round of negotiations with France’s Total and Britain’s Shell on the sidelines of OPEC summit underway in Algeria. In time with the fifteenth International Energy Forum in Algeria, Iran will hold talks with two European oil giants over inviting new tenders for the Iranian oil industry. Accordingly, Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh is expected to meet and talk with the chairman and CEO of Total Patrick Pouyanné as well as Mike Muller, the top trading executive at Royal Dutch Shell. Zanganeh’s separate talks with officials of Total and Shell will revolve around oil sales as well as inviting new tenders for Iran’s oil and gas projects. Recently, Managing Director of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Ali Kardor had announced that the first tender for development of oil fields is going to be held in within ICP format in October; “the development project for South Azadegan will be first oil field to be put out to tender.” Deputy oil minister also pointed to the proposals received from Total for partnership in development of South Azadegan joint oil field as well as Phase 11 of South Pars gas field adding “three developmental contracts will be inked before the end of the current Iranian calendar year (began March 20). Presently, Iran is now selling a daily average of about 160 to 200 thousand barrels to Total of France while a contract has also been sealed to sell single-shipment cargos to Royal Dutch Shell of Britain. The 15th International Energy Forum (IEF15) is being held in Algiers from 26-28 September 2016. Hosted by the Government of Algeria, the biennial Ministerial will gather Ministers, senior officials, CEOs, International Organisations, and experts from the 72 member countries of the IEF.