BRASILIA: Brazilian and Indian energy officials have asked for Iran’s assistance to construct oil refineries in their countries, Deputy Oil Minister Abbas Kazzemi announced.
“Brazil and India have negotiated with Iran on the construction of refineries,” Kazzemi, who is also the managing-director of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC), told reporters on the sidelines of the 20th International Oil and Gas Exhibition in Tehran on Saturday.
Kazzemi said Brazil wants Iran’s help for building a refinery with the capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, “and India also wants to construct a refinery with the capacity of 400,000 barrels per day”.
Elsewhere, Kazzemi also mentioned that Iraq’s energy officials have asked for importing 10 million liters of diesel fuel per day from Iran.
The United States cautioned India and others last week against strengthening ties with Iran ahead of a final agreement. But Indian officials said New Delhi could not ignore its national interest.
“We don’t want to miss this opportunity and will move as expeditiously as possible,” the Shipping Ministry source said.
India’s cabinet approved the plan to develop Chabahar port last year.
In October, a senior Indian trade official stressed the importance of Chabahar for investment in various sectors, including the transit of India’s products to other countries.
Manager of Indian Commercial Group Hersh Mishra underlined that the capabilities, capacities and unique location of Chabahar have prepared a suitable ground for investors in the private sector in this port city.
He said good infrastructural plans such as petrochemical refinery, railway, development of the jetty and transit route are either under implementation or study which will pave the way for profitable investment.
The Port of Chabahar is a seaport in Southeastern Iran. Its location lies on the border of the Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman. It is the only Iranian port with direct access to ocean. The port was partially built by India in the 1990s to provide access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
Iran’s Chabahar port, which is located 72 kilometers West of Pakistan’s Gwadar port, holds immense strategic and economic significance for India. Chabahar and Gwadar ports are located on a similar coast.
