Presidents Agree Russia to Take Part in Developing Iran’s Oil, Gas Fields

Text of report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS

Tehran, 16 October: [Presidents of Russia and Iran] Vladimir Putin and Mahmud Ahmadinezhad have agreed about the participation of Russian companies in the development of oil and gas deposits in Iran, including the South Pars gas field. This provision has been included in the Joint Statement by the presidents of the two countries, published after their talks in Tehran.

Particular attention during the talks was given to issues of cooperation in the sphere of production and transport and energy resources, the document notes.

“The sides agreed to develop direct contacts between oil and gas companies of the two countries, aimed at concluding concrete mutually beneficial commercial agreements on joint work in all segments of oil and gas industries.”

The presidents confirmed the interest in coordinating marketing policy in the sphere of export of oil and gas, the participation of Russian companies in developing oil and gas deposits in Iran, including the South Pars gas field and the setting up in Iran of production capacity for producing, storing and supplying for export natural gas, the document stressed.

Both sides confirmed the interest in continuing cooperation in the sphere of energy industry, including the modernization of power plants built with the Russian help and the construction of new thermal and hydroelectric power plants, including the construction of Tabas coal-fuelled thermal power plant in Iran.

Originally published by ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1815 16 Oct 07.

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