Iran to Keep Ownership of LNG Plants

Iran has no plans to hold tenders for transferring shares of LNG projects to foreign investors and oil companies, the director of National Iranian Gas Export Company (Nigec), Alireza Kameli, said.

He rejected reports by some foreign media claiming that Iran plans to put some of its LNG projects out to tender, Shana news agency reported on January 20. Any plan to hold such tenders will be announced by the National Iranian Oil Company, he stressed.

LNG World News reported January 15 that “Iran reportedly kicked off talks with foreign companies to sell shares in a liquefied natural gas project it is looking to bring back on track once the sanctions are lifted.” 

Iran LNG, which will have a little above 10mn metric tons/yr liquefaction capacity, is about half built. 

The head of the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), Ali Akbar Safaei, said on January 13 that some European companies were negotiating with Iran to build LNG, FLNG, and FPSO tankers for the country.

Companies from Germany, France, and Belgium have been negotiating with NITC, but the negotiations have not been finalized yet, he added.