China, Iran close to finalize energy contracts
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-02-17 18:55

In talks in Tehran in December, both sides agreed to seek to finalize the deal early this year, Caijing reported.

Sinopec chairman Mu Shuling told the magazine this week that his company would take a 51 percent stake in the Yadavaran project and India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp would take 29 percent.

The remaining 20 percent could go to an Iranian firm, while Royal Dutch Shell had also expressed an interest, it said.

If sealed, Iranian officials have said the agreement would mark one of the biggest ever foreign contracts for Iran.

The Islamic republic has the world's second largest oil and gas reserves. But its constitution stipulates the "prevention of foreign economic domination over the country's economy."