Iran, Pakistan sign gas pipeline deal

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120996§ionid=351020103


Iran and Pakistan have signed a deal to construct a pipeline connecting the two neighboring countries, a project that was strongly opposed by the US.

Pakistan has argued that the pipeline, which will connect Iran's South Pars gas field with Pakistan's Balochistan and Sindh provinces, is essential for efforts to meet its energy needs.

"It's in our legitimate economic interests," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said after the deal was signed on Tuesday.

He stated that construction of the pipeline should begin this year and it should become operational by 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported.

According to the terms of the final deal, Iran will supply 750 million cubic feet of gas per day to Pakistan for 25 years.

The US administration tried to block the deal to put more economic pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.

Iran, China sign $143mn drilling deal

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120173&sectionid=351020103


Iran and China have reached a $143 million deal that allows a Chinese company to set up a drilling rig in the Persian Gulf.

The contract has been signed by Iran's North Drilling Company (NDCO) and China Petroleum Technology Development Corporation (CPTDC), NDCO chief Hedayatollah Khademi said.

"Based on the contract the CPTDC company, which is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), will be delivering a drilling rig to the North Oil Drilling Company within the next 8 months to be used in the Persian Gulf's oil and gas fields," Khademi told Shana news agency on Saturday

The official added that his company has finalized a deal with another Chinese company for two jack-up rigs, planned to be installed in the Persian Gulf.

China, which now gets more than 15 percent of its oil from Iran, reportedly has commitments of more than $80 billion in the country's energy sector.