TEHRAN, Feb. 6 (Shana) � Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh said that the French giant energy firm Total will start importing 160,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Iran on February 16 which will be delivered in European destinations.

 

In an exclusive interview with Shana, he also said that the major Italian oil and gas company Eni and refiner Saras are also in negotiations over buying 100,000 barrels and between 60-70 thousand barrels of oil from Iran respectively.

�Based on the contract signed between the National Iranian Oil Co and Total, it was agreed that Total will buy 160,000 bpd of crude oil from Iran to be delivered in Europe,� he said.

Zangeneh added that Total is also interested in presence in Iran�s South Azadegan gas field and in Iran LNG project. �It was agreed that Iran provides the necessary information so that Total will carry out the study.�

The petroleum minister also said that Eni will sign up its contract for importing 100,000 bpd of oil during an upcoming visit of its mangers to Tehran in near future. �Eni has voiced its interest in one of Iran�s fields which will be treated like the agreement reached with Total.�

�Moreover, Italian refiner Saras wants to buy 60,000 to 70,000 bpd of oil from Iran,� he said, adding that both Eni and Saras used to be Iran�s customers prior to sanctions.

Saying that under the sanctions only Turkey was Iran�s European crude oil market which imported 100,000 bpd, Zangeneh said that the contracts with France and Italy will add more than 300,000 bpd to Iran�s daily exports to the green continent.

The minister said unpaid demands of Iran's oil transactions arising from the sanctions will be reimbursed as soon as the new banking accounts become active to collect the arrears.

By SHANA