“BP confirmed today that, pending clarification from the UK Government on certain aspects of the new EU regulations concerning restrictive measures against Iran, production from the Rhum gas field in the central North Sea has been suspended,” the company said.
“Once we obtain such clarification from the government, we will review the situation and will take whatever action is appropriate in light of that clarification,” Trevor Garlick, Regional President of BP North Sea, added.
Rhum — owned by BP and the Iranian Oil Company since the early 1970s — produced around 6 million cubic metres of gas a day in the first six months of 2010, according to government figures, which is under two percent of peak winter gas demand.
EU foreign ministers imposed extra sanctions on Iran last month targeting its oil and gas industries to pressure Tehran over its nuclear programme.
Iran says its nuclear programme is only for generating electricity but many western governments suspect Tehran is developing nuclear weapons. China, Russia, and India on Monday also urged Iran to prove that its nuclear ambition were peaceful. (Reporting by Kwok W. Wan; editing by William Hardy)
