(LNG) to In-
dia have gone nowhere and now Iran’s LNG firm is trying to scare the Indians into signing by alleging that Iran is in talks with seven foreign firms to sell them the LNG.
Ali Kheirandish, the managing director of the LNG subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), said Saturday that, since Indian companies have delayed to finalize their deal with Iran, negotiations are underway with three European and four Asian companies, the Mehr news agency reported. He did not name any of the seven, which gave little credibility to his report.
Kheirandish added that a new precondition has been set for continuing gas talks with the consortium of Indian companies—but he failed to say what that precondition was.
Last year, negotiations were started between the NIOC and a consortium consisting of three Indian firms for investing in Iran’s LNG projects and selling them six million tons of LNG annually.
It was expected that the Indian side would declare its final decision for buying Iranian LNG, investing in the South Pars gasfield, and buying 40 percent participation in the “Iran LNG” development project by last Now Ruz. It did not.
In November, the Iranian Oil Ministry gave an ultimatum to the Indian firms to announce their decision on their participation in the biggest phase of South Pars gas field, developing the Farzad-B gasfield, and participating in the “Iran LNG” project.
Kheirandish said negotiations are now underway with the seven foreign firms, in an obvious effort to convey to the Indians that Iran has no worries about being able to sell its LNG.
He pointed out that China is building 12 terminals for receiving LNG shipments, meaning the country plans to increase its LNG imports.
As of now, however, Iran has no facilities for liquefying gas so it can be loaded on tankers. All Iran’s gas exports are by pipeline to neighboring countries. Several months ago, Iran downgraded its LNG plans and said it was focusing on pipeline transport for its exports. The “Iran LNG” project is the sole LNG project Iran said it was not mothballing.