Russia invited to develop Iran’s Changooleh oilfield

Managing Director of National Iranian Oil Company said Russian companies can participate in developing Iran’s Changooleh oilfield.

Ahmad Qal’ebani told the Mehr news agency on Saturday that Gazprom’s deadline for participating in development plan of Azar oilfield has been finished, but Russian companies can participate in other oil fields such as Changooleh.

He made the remarks after Russian energy minster said on Friday that Moscow hopes for further talks about the development of Iran’s Azar oil field after Tehran ousted Gazprom Neft from the project.

The National Iranian Oil Company said last week that it abandoned the plan to develop the Azar field jointly with Gazprom Neft, saying the Russian company showed a lack of interest. On Tuesday, the Iranian state oil company signed a $1.9 billion deal for Azar with a consortium of Iranian firms that will replace Gazprom Neft.

Iran’s displeasure with Gazprom Neft first came to light in August. Shmatko said Thursday that during a recent trip to Tehran the countries agreed to consider replacing Gazprom Neft with another Russian company.

Russian state-owned Zarubezhneft signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with Iran in summer.