Interest among oil giants builds up in returning to Iran in anticipation of a nuclear deal and after meeting Iran’s oil minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, Lukoil’s CEO Vagit Alekperov told the Russian News Agency (TASS) reporter in Vienna that Lukoil is interested in returning to Iran after sanctions are lifted.
The Russian oil and gas major Lukoil started working on the Anaran block in Iran in 2003 but was forced to pull out after economic sanctions were imposed on Iran.
The dialog with Iran’s oil minister was highly meaningful, Alekperov said. "We are currently exploring opportunities for entering Iran after sanctions are lifted. Lukoil discovered the Anaran field in Iran in its time. Certainly, we are interested in returning to that field," Lukoil’s CEO said.
"We are highly optimistic and look forward to proactive working in Iran after removal of sanctions," Lukoil’s CEO said.
Along with Norway’s Statoil, Lukoil was prospecting for oil in Iran’s Anaran block before it pulled out of the project due to the imposition of sanctions on Iran’s energy sector by the United States and the European Union. Lukoil reportedly suffered a 63-million dollar loss after the withdrawal.
Interfax news agency said Lukoil and Statoil are also in talks to develop Azar and Changuleh oil deposits in Iran.
Earlier in mid-April, the company reopened its office in Iran, as the company’s First Vice President Ravil Maganov broke the news.