Nov 01, 2004

Norwegian Firms among Bidders on Iranian Oil Field


Two Norwegian oil companies, Norsk Hydro and Statoil, are bidding to develop the Yadavaran oil field in Iran's Khuzestan Province, that is located in and around the two Indigenous Ahwazi-Arab villages of Hussinieh and Kusk
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Two Norwegian oil companies, Norsk Hydro and Statoil, are bidding to develop the Yadavaran oil field in Iran's Khuzestan Province, Radio Farda reported.

The companies submitted their tenders in late September, Norway's "Aftenposten" daily reported on 17 October. Iranian Oil Engineering and Development Company official Ali Akbar Al-i Aqa said in August that the Yadavaran field has proven reserves of some 17 billion barrels, and Tehran is negotiating with China, France, and Russia, as well as Statoil, on the field's development.

Both companies have other outstanding proposals to develop Iranian energy resources -- Statoil is developing three phases of the offshore South Pars gas field, and Hydro is bidding on several blocks in Luristan Province.

Former Statoil chief of international operations Richard Hubbard has agreed to pay a fine of $30,300 for attempting to bribe Iranian oil officials, AP reported on 18 October. Statoil announced the previous week that it will pay a $3 million fine in the case, rather than face a lengthy court case.

The fines relate to Statoil's $15.2 million deal with

Horton Investments, a London-based consulting company associated with Mehdi Hashemi, the managing director of the Organization for Optimization of Energy Consumption, which is a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company. Hashemi is the son of former Iranian President Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani. The Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Okokrim) ruled in June that Statoil and Hubbard must pay the fines.

Notice to Mr. Hashemi, China, France, and Russia, as well as Statoil

This newly discovered oilfield, “Yadavaran”, is located in and around the two Indigenous Ahwazi-Arab villages of Hussinieh and Kusk. The Iranian government immediately changed the indigenous Arab names to a Persian name of “Yadavaran” and forcefully expropriated the land.

Historical and legal owners of the “Yadavaran” oilfields are the 4 to 5 million indigenous Ahwazi-Arabs of Iran. The land of the subject oil deals, and indeed a large part of al-Ahwaz (Arabistan), currently known as Khuzestan province.

The Khuzestan region where “Yadavaran” oilfields were discovered is the ancestral land of indigenous Ahwazi Arabs who have lived there for thousand of years. . No part of this revenue, none, is being allocated to or shared with the indigenous Ahwazi Arabs in southwestern Iran. The Iranian government, contrary to the international law, expropriated this land without compensation to the rightful tribal owners such as Kaab, Adris, Albo-Nasser, Zergan, Bawi, Bani-toroof

Source: Ahwazstudies