Total seeks quick deal on Kashagan Reuters Published: November 23, 2007, 01:04
Tienen: France's Total hopes for a swift end to the dispute between Kazakhstan and operators of its Kashagan oil field, but a deadline of November 30 will be hard to meet, the head of Total said.
Christophe de Margerie said Total was also keen to pursue its projects in Iran, which have been bogged down by discussions over terms and the French government's request to French companies not to invest in Iran.
Kazakhstan's energy minister said last week the settlement of the dispute over Kashagan, the world's biggest oil find in three decades, could go beyond the November 30 deadline but that a deal was possible by the end of the year.
De Margerie said it would be hard to meet the formal deadline given that time is now so short, but was keen to see a settlement quickly.
"Let's do it as fast as possible. One must not give too much importance to deadlines... The goal is to find a solution as fast as possible," de Margerie said on the sidelines of the inauguration of a solar energy production plant in Belgium.
Kashagan's development has been plagued by cost overruns and delays which have irked Kazakhstan.
The oil-rich country has accused ENI and its partners of ecological and other violations.
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