Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh met his Syrian opposite
number, Ali Soleiman Ghanem, in his Tehran office on Tuesday.
According to Bijan Zangeneh who talked to the reporters following the
meeting, enhancing Iran-Syria relations in oil, gas and petrochemical industries
was one of the highlights of the meeting.
“The more stability and peace is
restored in Syria, the more will Iranian companies have a role in
reconstruction of the country,” said Mr. Zangeneh.
He said Mr. Ghanem had visited Iran at the request of the Iranian
Petroleum Minister, adding the Syrian official had visited energy facilities in
southern Iran a day earlier and would visit Iran Plast International Exhibition
afterwards.
The 13th Iran Plast international exhibition began on Sunday, September
22 and will run through September 25 at Tehran’s permanent fairgrounds.
“Iran’s private sector can play a
role in Syria in such fields as construction of equipment, production of
petrochemicals, manufacturing machinery and construction of industrial units in
the petrochemical, oil and gas sectors,” said Mr. Zangeneh.
He added that empowering human forces and training technical resources
in Syria in the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors was another highlight of the
meeting with his Syrian counterpart. “We declared our readiness to transfer our
experiences in the gas industry, delivery networks and gas distribution to the
Syrian side.”
The Iranian Petroleum Minister further said that some Iranian companies
were currently active in Syria having a role in reconstruction of the country,
and said: “The more stability and peace is restored in Syria, the more will
this presence and participation be augmented.”
For his part, Mr. Ghanem expressed astonishment at oil industry’s
development in South Pars, saying: “I had heard that Iran’s oil industry had
progressed a lot, but when I saw South Pars in person, I was surprised by the
capabilities of Iranians in developing South Pars.”