Iran struggles over its gas field riches

Not long ago, western energy majors such as Royal Dutch Shell and France’s Total were eager to develop South Pars, the world’s biggest natural gas field in southern Iran.

Today, only one foreign company – the China National Petroleum Corporation – is present in one phase of the field, which lies beneath the waters of the Gulf. Iran’s state-owned and quasi-private companies have taken over all other projects and they struggle with a shortage of investment and equipment.

Under scorching sun and in high humidity near the town of Assaluyeh, Iranian workers are busy building pipe racks and doing electrical and mechanical tasks on onshore facilities.