Lukoil discussing swaps for Iran, which is already supplying oil to Europe
MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - Lukoil is discussing the possibility of organizing oil swap supplies to Iran from its fields in the Caspian, Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky told journalists.
"I know that last week Lukoil head Vagit Alekperov was in Iran. Issues connected with oil trade were discussed. I think that the topic of swaps was probably also discussed because Lukoil has oil from the Caspian and refineries on the Volga, therefore it is clear that the topic of swaps was also discussed," he said.
"These swaps envisage that Russian oil would be sold on the Iranian market, in the north, and in exchange Iran would provide Lukoil other corresponding oil volumes on the Persian Gulf," he said.
Reuters said Iran had already sold three tankers of oil to Europe. It said one of the buyers of the oil was Lukoil's trading company, Litasco, which bought the crude for its Petrotel refinery in Romania.
Lukoil's press office did not comment on information that Litasco had bought Iranian oil.
In addition, Lukoil managed to come to an agreement on the possible participation in several production projects in Iran, Yanovsky said.
Lukoil has entered two hydrocarbon exploration projects in Iran's Khuzestan province, Press TV reported on January 25, citing the director for exploration at National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Hormoz Qalavand.
The sections are located in Dasht-e Abadan and the northern parts of the Persian Gulf, he said.
The contract is worth about $6 million, Qalavand said, adding that Lukoil had already started work on the projects.