Chief Executive Officer of Italy’s largest oil producer Eni says the company is looking to restore its oil purchases from Iran once the western sanctions on the country are lifted.
Following a Wednesday meeting with Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh here in Tehran, Claudio Descalzi said Eni’s officials are considering the circumstances for retuning to Iran’s oil industry, but said “it is still too early to speak about the sectors the company will step in after the sanctions relief."
“Before the sanctions intensified against Tehran, Eni had an active presence in Iran’s oil and gas industry and completed its projects,” said Descatzi.
ENI was a partner to Iran's oil projects before the sanctions were imposed. It had taken part in development of phases 4 and 5 of South Pars gas field as well as Darkhoein oil field.
Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh met with senior Italian executives as part of a high-profile Italian delegation in Tehran on Wednesday.
Through the meeting, Iran and Italy moved toward reviving close energy relationships now that Western economic sanctions are expected to be lifted by year end.
After the Wednesday meeting, Zangeneh hailed the numerous visits to Tehran by European delegations as "the green light of [European] governments to companies and the private sector" for restoration of activities in Iran.
Addressing a press conference, the Iranian official said boosting oil, gas and petrochemical relations were the highlights discussed during the session.
In the past, Iran had a successful partnership with Italian companies for developing South Pars phases as well as southern oilfields like Darkhoein oil field.