Tehran, PIN, 08/05/2010

TEHRAN (Shana): Managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Ahmad Qalebani says development of the shared oil and gas fields is among the priorities of the company.

In his first visit to South Pars gas field after taking charge of NIOC's managing director post, Mr. Qalebani told the Shana correspondent that NIOC has focused on plans to accelerate implementation of the upstream sector projects and to develop shared oil and gas fields.

He went on to say that, the petroleum minister Seyed Masoud Mirkazemi has emphasized on optimal use of allocated resources for important upstream projects and along with that, NIOC will double its efforts to use utmost capacity of the oil industry to develop upstream sector projects as a priority.

talking about providing financial resources, Mr Qalebani said some new ratifications has increased the National Iranian Oil Company potentials to implement oil industry projects and has made NIOC capable to accelerate development of the South Pars gas field phases.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Mr. Qalebani said that fortunately domestic contractors have achieved remarkable advances in their specialized fields so that we can count on their abilities to accelerate projects.

Two weeks ago, Iranian petroleum minister Masoud Mirkazemi appointed Ahmad Qalebani as the new managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). Qalebani replaced Saifollah Jashnsaz at the post.

Before appointing the job, Mr. Qalebani held the post of managing director of SAIPA, Iranian Automaker Company.