By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 20 -- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American Affairs Ali Ahani met with Norway's Petroleum and Energy Minister Einar Steensnæs in Oslo this week to discuss expanding the existing cooperation between the two countries' oil sectors.
"We regard Iran as an important oil-producing country with a sizable population in a sensitive and strategic region," Steensnæs told OPEC News Agency.
Norwegian oil companies' presence in Iran is indicative of the prospects for long-term cooperation and a mutual relationship between Tehran and Oslo, he added.
Steensnæs said he plans a trip to Tehran to discuss joint energy projects and greater collaboration between Norway and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Ahani said OPEC can act on behalf of oil-exporting countries as a coordinator with oil-consuming countries to help stabilize world oil prices.
"Norwegian companies' superior technical capabilities have enabled them to gain a foothold in oil exploration and other areas of Iran's oil and gas sector," Ahani said.
Norway's Statoil ASA and Iran's PetroPars Ltd. recently signed a participation agreement designating Statoil as operator of offshore development in Phases 6, 7, and 8 of the South Pars gas development project (OGJ Online, Nov. 6, 2002).
