TEHRAN – A parliamentary ad hoc committee was recently established to examine the countrys oil and gas production as well as international buy-back deals.

The committee comprises four lawmakers. They are Mehdi Kouchekzadeh, Ali Riaz, Qeisar Salehi and Alimorad Jaafari. In order to have more information about the activities of the committee, Jaafari shares his views with the Petroenergy Information Network. Q: What activities does the committee have currently under way? A: The committee is lobbying the Energy Committee of the Majlis and the Petroleum Ministry Investigative Committee. Our committee is focusing on the deals signed since 10 years ago and it will try to remove ambiguities on the contracts. Q: What will the committee members do if they hit snags in their examination of the deals? A: The issue will be discussed in the Majlis Article 90 Committee and the Petroleum Ministry may be contracted in case of financial problems. Q: What does this committee expect the Petroleum Ministry and the Majlis? A: The committee is in fact expecting the ministry to show transparency in its contracts and undertake efforts to that effect. The minister and oil managers have to take into account national interests in signing deals for oil and gas projects. This issue has to be specifically taken into account when it comes to the fields Iran shares with Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf and other countries. Iran has to increase its oil and gas recovery. The ministry should accelerate its work in hydrocarbon reserves. Q: Can you tell us of other activities of the committee? A: In signing oil contracts, transformation of underground reserves into recoverable asserts have to be taken into account to inject revenues into state coffers. Targeting is an important factor in oil contracts. Another point is that all projects should be under supervision of Iranian parties. Q: How can you block the flight of capital to that effect? A: We should sign the deals in a way to have time homogeneity because sometimes some projects may serve as feedstock for others. Q: What do you think about transfer of technological savvy? A: I regret to say that the issue of education and the transfer of technology are often mistaken. The contracts should all call for transfer of technological know-how. Q: What is your general idea of Irans oil contracts? A: We need to revise the legal considerations of oil deals so that national interests are safeguarded while domestic and foreign investments are attracted. Our current oil deals are not in proper position and they have to be reconsidered.
کد خبر 76965