25-11-04 If negotiations between Chinese companies and Royal-Dutch Shell and talks between Japanese companies and French Total prove fruitful, the two companies may participate in developing Yadavaran and Azadegan oilfields. Hadi Nejad Hosseinian, deputy oil minister for international affairs, told that Japanese companies are negotiating with Total to encourage their cooperation in developing Azadegan oilfield.
"At the same time, Chinese corporations are asking Shell to take part in developing Yadavaran. If we reach an agreement with Indian companies on cooperation in developing Yadavaran, only 20 % of the field will be given to them with Chinese companies having the lion's share of the field," he said.

The official added that based on current agreements, Chinese companies will use a creditable international company confirmed by the National Iranian Oil Company to develop the field provided that the said international company would accept major development plan for the field and both sides agree thatthe plan is the best plan for developing the field according to information made available to them.
Nejad Hosseinian said Chinese oil companies enjoy needed capabilities for developing oil field and international oil firms will cooperate with them to assure their performance.

He noted that cooperation of international companies with Chinese and Japanese companies in developing Iranian oil fields is not directly related to the Iranian Oil Ministry, adding, "The markets in China and Japan are very much different and international oil corporations are using any possible ground to enter Chinese market."
"It seems that cooperation with Sinopec in developing Yadavaran field and subsequent entry into the Chinese market is valuable to Shell," he concluded.