Bashkiria plans to develop cooperation with Iran in oil production and refining

The Head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, met with the Deputy Minister of Oil of Iran, Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company Mohsen Khojaste-Mehr on March 12, in Tehran. The agenda is strengthening cooperation in the oil and gas industry and implementing joint projects.

The Deputy Minister of Oil of Iran noted the great potential of Bashkortostan in oil production and processing.

“Iran ranks second in the world after Russia in gas reserves and third in oil reserves. We are ready to work with Bashkortostan to implement projects in this area. I visited the booth of Bashkortostan at the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum and got acquainted with your capabilities. They are very wide,” said Mohsen Khojaste-Mehr.

The Head of Bashkortostan, in turn, outlined some proposals for organizing interaction.

“Bashkortostan is an oil-producing and oil-refining region. The first oil field in our country began to be developed in 1932. We have built up oilfield and geophysical equipment production competencies during this time. Bashkortostan enterprises supply it to the largest Russian companies. We are ready to share our experience. As part of our delegation, heads of industry companies with good competencies arrived in Iran,” said Radiy Khabirov.

Radiy Khabirov also proposed developing scientific and educational cooperation in oil production and refining.

“We have one of the leading Russian specialized universities in Ufa – the Ufa State Petroleum Technical University. Therefore, we are ready to cooperate with your industry universities. By the decision of the Government of Russia, a world-class Eurasian Scientific and Educational Center was created in Bashkortostan. It would be beneficial if we organized the constant interaction of our scientific circles,” added Radiy Khabirov.

The Head of Bashkortostan invited the Deputy Minister of Oil and representatives of Iranian industry to visit the industry exhibition “Gas. Oil. Technologies”, which will be held in Ufa in May 2023. The delegation of Bashkortostan to a similar profile exhibition in Iran will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic - Minister of Industry, Energy and Innovation Alexander Sheldyaev.