In Brief: Total to continue activities in Iran

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, May 10 – French oil giant Total will continue its activities in Iran’s South Pars gas field to produce Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the company’s representative in Iran, Pierre Fabiani, told the state-run news agency ISNA. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, May 10 – French oil giant Total will continue its activities in Iran’s South Pars gas field to produce Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the company’s representative in Iran, Pierre Fabiani, told the state-run news agency ISNA.

“There are no problems on Total’s side; we are firm on our decision to stay and activate in Iran. The current problem we are facing is in the South Pars LNG project’s 11th phase. These problems are all financial and are not only related to the Iran or the region, but include the total globe”, ISNA quoted Fabiani as saying on Tuesday.

The following are excerpts of the interview as reported by ISNA:

ISNA: Total has been among the companies which have ignored all pressures imposed by West and especially the U.S. on them regarding their cooperation with Iran; what is Total’s policy regarding Iran? Do you think that Total’s decision will influence other companies’ decisions too?

Fabiani: I believe that many other smaller companies when seeing our presence in Iran will trust this path and follow us. I also believe that many LNG consumers after seeing Total’s name will place stronger steps forward. We stay in Iran, because this is our job; every country has its own problems.

ISNA: Are you worried about the possible sanction placed against Iran’s oil and gas?

Fabiani: No, we concentrate on our job and are vigilant regarding the events which occur around us. We can not continue our activity in Iran illegally. Our current activities in Iran are completely legal and we are determined to continue our activities. Iran has many resources of gas and oil and to be honest we want to stay.

ISNA: In the case of a sanction what will happen to the project?

Fabiani: We believe that this will not happen and we will try to continue our activities in Iran. Placing a sanction on Iran’s oil industry is very improbable. They did it in the 1950s, because back then this technology was only in the hands of a few, but today this can not be done because so many possess this technology and others will not follow the group which is placing the sanction. Maybe a sanction will be written down on paper, but the possibility of putting it into practice is very low.