Tehran, Iran, Nov. 24
Trend:
An Iranian official says the private sector and domestic manufacturers have the capacity to form a bond with small foreign companies and replace Total.
"We do not have to emphasize on Total's leaving the country; we should care for domestic power. We can operate Total's projects by turning them into 50 small projects jointly with small European and other countries. We can obtain technology from them and Iranians living abroad can also invest in the country," ILNA quoted Head of Iran's Petroleum Industries Equipment Manufacturers Association Reza Khayamian as saying.
French oil giant Total officially left Iran in August and abandoned its deal to develop the South Pars gas field due to US sanctions. In November, US re-imposed more sanctions that hit Iran's oil sector, shipping industry and financial institutions.
"We should change the sanctions situation into an opportunity; if sanctions become a threat, both producers and employers will be hurt. If we cannot buy foreign goods, we should believe in domestic production,” Khayamian said.
Khayamian indicated the need to improve the process of smooth production.
"If we can do this, there would be no problem in bigger projects."