Iran should use national currencies in joint energy projects

Jan 13, 2010 01:00 AM

An Iranian official suggested that national currencies should be used in Tehran's joint projects on oil and gas with Russia.
"We want our national currencies to be used in our projects," said Iranian Deputy Petroleum Minister Hossein Noghrehkar Shirazi.

Shirazi, who was attending a Moscow meeting on bilateral long-term cooperation in the oil, gas and petrochemical spheres, said the measure would enhance the financing of large-scale projects. According to the Iranian minister, Tehran plans to double its gas output to a daily 1 bn cm in five years. Its daily oil production will also increase by 1 mm barrels to 5 mm barrels.
Deputy Energy Minister Sergei Kudryashov said major Russian companies, including Gazprom, were currently in energy talks with Iran.

Tehran and Moscow account for 18 % and 40 % of global oil and gas reserves.