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May 18, 2018

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CNPC to replace Total in Iran project

Source: AFP | 00:01 UTC+8 May 18, 2018 | Print Edition

Chinese state-owned oil company CNPC will replace Total on a major gas field project in Iran if the French energy giant pulls out over renewed US sanctions against Tehran, Iran鈥檚 oil minister has said.

鈥淭otal has said that if it doesn鈥檛 get an exemption from the United States to continue its work, it will begin to pull out of the deal,鈥 Bijan Namdar Zanganeh was quoted as saying by his ministry鈥檚 Shana news service.

鈥淚f that happens, the Chinese firm CNPC will replace Total.鈥

Total started the US$4.8-billion South Pars 11 project in July 2017, two years after Western powers signed a nuclear deal with Tehran prompting the return of many businesses to Iran.

But earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced his withdrawal from the deal, and warned companies that they face sanctions if they do business with Iran.

The French group said on Wednesday it has US$10 billion of capital employed in its US assets, and US banks are involved in 90 percent of its financing operations, making Total highly vulnerable if targeted by any US action.

By contrast, Total said it had spent less than 40 million euros (US$47 million) on the Iranian project, which it runs with its partner Petrochina and which is dedicated to the supply of domestic gas inside Iran.

Zanganeh said on Wednesday that were CNPC, which was part of the Total deal, unable to carry out the work in South Pars due to US sanctions it would fall to Iran鈥檚 Petropars.

Iran possesses the second-largest gas reserves on the planet, after Russia, and the fourth largest oil supply.

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