NIOC Tough on Foreign Partnership
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has become tougher in its potential cooperation with foreign companies, the company’s managing director said.
Ali Kardor, who is also Iran’s deputy minister of petroleum, said: “Given the improvement in competitive atmosphere and more reasonable financial proposals offered by bidders following the implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), NIOC has become more selective in its decision-making for cooperation with international companies.”
“More well-known and technical companies are prioritized for cooperation,” he said.
Asked about Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC), the new model of contracts to replace buybacks, Kardor said: “Launching tenders and signing agreements will take time, but West Karoun fields, particularly Azadegan [oil] field, are prioritized.”
Regarding Iran’s oil exports, he said: “Iran’s crude oil exports stand above 2 mb/d excluding gas condensates, while including gas condensates, Iran's exports it will be 2.5 mb/d.”
He also said that no field is planned to be awarded for development without being put out to tender.
“Of course, according to NIOC deals bylaw, awarding development of joint fields without issuing any tender is subject to the decision of the petroleum minister and an ad hoc committee comprising senior officials,” said Kardor.
Iran, South Korea to Build Petro-Refinery
Iran and South Korea are to cooperate in petro-refinery establishment.
Member of the Board of Directors of Masjed Soleiman Petrochemical Company Ali Seifian says his company is to sign a contract with a consortium, comprising Korean companies, for financing and construction of a petro-refinery. Seifian said intensive talks are underway with well-credited German, Chinese and Korean companies for development of Zilaie Energy Zone in Masjed Soleiman, which is the second petrochemical hub in Khouzestan Province.
He said talks with the well-credited Korean companies focus on financing and construction of a petro-refinery, as well as the downstream units and peripheral facilities.
He added that the petro-refinery will be set up beside the phase 1 of Masjed Soleiman petrochemical project, whose construction has shown favorable progress.
The official said at least 1.5 billion dollars in investment is needed for development of the units.
Foreign-Flagged Tankers Docking at Kharg Port
Director General of Bushehr Province's Ports and Maritime Administration Mohammad Mahdi Bonchari says foreign-flagged oil tankers and VLCCs are now docking at the Kharg Island's port.
Kharg Island oil terminal is one of Iran's key oil export ports. The country sends most of its exported oil cargoes from the port to international destinations.
He said exports from the port rose by 60% over the first 4 months of the current Iranian calendar year which began on March 20, reaching 35.8 million tons of various cargoes.
He said for the first time since implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that foreign-flagged oil tankers are calling at the port.
Bonchari said tankers from France, Spain, Greece, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy and South Korea are now crowding the port.
In the past four months, 925 vessels with over 1000 tons of freight capacity have berthed at the port, he added.