Baku, Azerbaijan, March 7
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
The National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) needs $200 million to purchase offshore rigs, the company's managing director, Heidar Bahmani said.
Negotiations are underway with Iranian and foreign investors from Asia and Europe on the issue, Bahmani said, the oil ministry's SHANA news agency reported March 6.
The company owns 75 drilling rigs, he said, adding the number will reach 80 by next Iranian fiscal year (to start March 21).
The company plans to increase its offshore rigs with participation of domestic or foreign investors, via partnership or lease-purchase methods, Bahmani said.
The NIDC will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an Italian firm in the near future, he said, adding it was agreed that the Italian side makes investment in the projects which will be carried out by the Iranian company.
The NIDC also has conducted negotiations with Singaporean and Chinese companies for financing the offshore drilling projects and for drilling rigs, Bahmani said.
While responding to a question about the perspective of company's activities in the post-sanction period, Bahmani said that the NIDC plans to carry out drilling projects in Iraq and Persian Gulf states.
The official further said that the NIDC will prepare grounds for presence of private sector in drilling projects.
He further said that the Iranian drilling company has negotiated with the Chinese after they won a tender bid in Iraq, and the Iranian side has agreed to provide some of the equipment needed for the project.
"We are also in negotiations with some European firms operating in Iraqi projects in order to jointly work in the country's south and north."
Iran also is in talk with Kuwaiti firms for carrying out drilling projects in the Arab country, he added.