“Given the high potentials of Iranian companies, (Iran’s) petroleum industry’s cooperation with international oil companies must continue at a higher level than before,” Akbar Torkan told the Oil Ministry News Agency, Shana.
“At present, the Iranian contractors and constructors are mature enough to operate mega projects like the development of South Pars fields easily,” he said.
Referring to the early positive effects of Iran’s nuclear deal with six world powers, Torkan said a new international atmosphere is taking shape for Iran following the November nuclear deal in Geneva.
Last month's interim accord reached between Iran and the G5+1 -- the US, Russia, Britain, France, China and Germany -- after three rounds of talks in Geneva is seen as a first step towards resolving a decade-old standoff over Iran's nuclear program.
“With the signature of the Geneva Accord, new grounds have been prepared for broader cooperation between (The Iranian) oil industry and foreign companies,” said Torkan.
He said that Iranian companies are now holding a 40 percent share in the development of South Pars gas field, while some years ago companies such as (Norway’s) Statoil were leading Iranian contractors in the development of phases 6, 7 and 8 of South Pars.
The top aide to President Rouhani added that Iran’s call on foreign companies to operate its oil and gas projects does not mean a step backward.
“(Although the Iranian) oil industry is under sanctions we have witnessed the capabilities of the Iranian companies in South Pars,” said Torkan.
Iranian contractors including Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex Company (ISCOICO), Petropars, Iran Industrial Marine Company and Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company are currently developing the South Pars gas field.
That is while President Hassan Rouhani has said that his administration attaches great significance to the development of giant offshore South Pars gas field phases.
“We have to raise our revenues in order to resolve people’s problems. Assaluyeh is a place with such necessary potentials,” he told a group of lawmakers earlier this week.
The president said that his administration will work for the development of oil and gas reservoirs shared with neighboring countries.
Rouhani said that the officials have promised him to overtake Qatar in extracting gas from South Pars.