Iran suspends cooperation with Gazprom in Azar oil fieldOctober 10, 2011 - 10:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Senior Iranian oil ministry officials announced that they have fired the Russian gas company, Gazprom, from Azar oil field in Western Iran. “We eventually came to the conclusion to cut our cooperation with this company in Azar oil field and strike a deal with a domestic contractor," Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Ahmad Qalehbani told Fars News Agency on Sunday, October 9. "Unfortunately, the Russian Gazprom company delayed fulfilling its undertakings and the NIOC had given it repeated warnings, which were never heeded (by the other side)," he continued. The NIOC chief further pointed out that a "consortium of Iranian contractors will pick up work in the field", adding that the Iranian contracting company would soon be named to the media. In November 2009, Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Gazprom, and the National Iranian Oil Company signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in the development of oil fields and to study the development of two other Iranian oilfields, Azar and Changule. After repeated warnings, Iran gave a last opportunity to Gazprom to fulfill its undertakings in mid September. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, who was in Iran in mid September to attend a ceremony to mark the official launch of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, told reporters that the two sides "have concluded an agreement to decide in a month time if Gazprom will take part in the development and exploitation of Azar oil field." Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. For the first time, Armenia votes in favor of Georgia resolution in UN Armenia on Tuesday, June 4 voted for the first time in favor a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Moscow warns Armenia against leaving Russian-led defense bloc Armenia could ruin its military ties with Russia if it continues drifting towards the West, according to a senior official in Moscow. Moscow says ready to support Yerevan-Baku reconciliation Moscow has confirmed its readiness to support the reconciliation of Yerevan and Baku. |