Romania has launched talks with Iran over the import of natural gas after receiving the first Iranian crude cargo at a South Romanian refinery.
Following Georgia and Greece, Romania marks the third East European country to announce readiness for purchase of natural gas or LNG shipments from Iran.
Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Amir Hossein Zamaninia described the negotiations held with the Romanian FM saying "oil firms in Romania have voiced willingness to participate in Iran’s offshore and onshore sectors as well as in manufacturing of equipment.”
“Romania seeks to diversify its oil resources,” emphasized the official asserting “Romanians have been informed that in four or five years’ time, Iran will decide on particular destinations for its LNG cargos.”
Meanwhile, Seyed Mohsen Ghamsari, Executive Director for International Affairs at National Iranian Oil Company has recently deemed Eastern European countries as the most important market for Iranian crude during the post-sanction era underlining “in case of reaching a final deal, Iran’s oil will be deployed to Eastern European markets.”
Over recent weeks, several talks have been conducted and the first shipment of Iranian crude has been transported to and refined at Petrotel Lukoil Refinery as one of the largest Romanian oil refineries and one of the largest in Eastern Europe, located in Ploieşti, Prahova County.
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