European Countries Negotiate to Build LNG Tankers for Iran

Some European companies are negotiating with Iran to build LNG, FLNG, and FPSO tankers for the country, a National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) official has said.

The head of NITC, Ali Akbar Safaei, said companies from Germany, France, and Belgium have been negotiating with NITC to build the tankers but that nothing has been finalised yet, Fars news agency reported on January 13.

In November 2015, Iran’s energy minister, Bijan Zanganeh, hosted a meeting with Belgium’s foreign trade minister, Pieter De Crem, in Tehran. During the meeting, Zanganeh said Tehran was interested in Belgium’s FLNG vessels.

“The Belgian side can bring its FLNG vessels to Kharg so that Iran can produce LNG there for the first time provided that both sides show flexibility and the technical and economic negotiations bear results in not a long period,” Zangeneh added.

Meanwhile, the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Hamid-Reza Araqi, has said Iran is negotiating to launch five LNG projects within the next three years. Iran already has a contract with German Linde to build the “Iran LNG” project, which is planned to deliver 10.5mn mt/year. Sanctions imposed on Iran, relating to its nuclear power programme, halted work on the Iran LNG project when it was about half way through.