Iran hands major gas deals to local firms
Iran hands major gas deals to local firms
Iran has signed contracts worth $21 billion with local firms for the development of six phases of the country's giant South Pars gas field.

The deals to develop phases 13, 14, 19, 22, 23 and 24 of South Pars were signed on Tuesday, 15 June, between the Iranian Oil Ministry and two local consortia, namely Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) and Petropars.

Iranian President, who was present at the signing of the deals in the southern city of Asalouyeh, described them as "the biggest contracts in the history of Iran's oil industry."

Royal Dutch Shell and Repsol had been originally awarded phases 13 and 14 but were left out of the project by Iran due to their repeated delays.

The total gas production from the fields, which are to become operational within 35 months, would be 200 million cubic meters per day.

"This is a very great day for the Iranian oil industry. It is the start of a new era," Iranian President said in a speech after the deals were reached.

He further called for the better management of resources to speed up the development of South Pars.

IDRO is a holding company of state-owned industrial groups and Petropars is a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company, which finances the projects.