Iran's State-Run Gas Firm Ready to Cooperate with Russian Major

The National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) is ready to cooperate with Russia’s Gazprom in gas transfer, refining, and storage projects, managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company Hamid-Reza Araqi has said.

NIGC and Gazprom can cooperate in different fields based on their responsibilities and political will of the two countries, Shana quoted Mr. Araqi as saying on December 23rd.

"It is certain the world need natural gas. Iran and Russia can take advantage of their rich resources and follow common goals," Mr. Araqi added.

Considering that over 3.3 million cars in Iran are compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuelled, this could be a good field for cooperation, he noted.

The first coordination meeting of Russian energy company Gazprom with the National Iranian Gas Company was held in Tehran.

Alexander Ivanovich Medvedev and Vitaly Markelov, the deputy chairmen of the management committee of Gazprom, discussed engineering, implementation, operation, trade, and research issues with Azizollah Ramezani, the director for international affairs of the National Iranian Gas Company, Shana news agency reported on December 23.

The two sides have defined grounds for cooperation in the frame of five working groups. The Russian officials lead a 25-member team to Iran.

Mr. Medvedev said in June that Gazprom may also take part in liquefied natural gas projects in Iran once sanctions against Tehran are lifted.