Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Assert Joint Ownership of Offshore Gas Field. Urge Iran to Engage in Talks

Reuters
Thursday, August 3, 2023

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reaffirmed that they jointly own rights to natural resources in the Gulf's Durra gas field, Saudi state news agency SPA reported early on Thursday, citing a statement from the Saudi foreign ministry.

The foreign ministry also said both countries are renewing calls for Iran to engage in negotiations on the demarcation of the eastern border of the Gulf's maritime "Divided Area," SPA said.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will negotiate as one party, with Iran acting as the other side in the talks "in accordance with the provisions of international law," the Saudi foreign ministry added.

Iran has previously said it has a stake in the Durra field and called a Saudi-Kuwaiti agreement signed last year to develop it "illegal."

Iran said on Sunday it would pursue its rights over the field if other parties shunned cooperation, a few days after Kuwait's oil minister said his country would start drilling and begin production without waiting for border demarcation with Iran.

(Reporting by Hatem Maher in Cairo, Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis)

Categories: Middle East Gas Offshore Energy Industry News

Related Stories

Gulf Marine Services Lines Up First Fleet Addition in 10 Years

Europeans Commit to Wind Energy Expansion Despite Trump Criticism

Viridien, SLB Set to Launch ‘Massive’ OBN Survey Offshore Egypt

Current News

More to Consider than CO2 in CCS Leakage Risks

France Calls Draft Law on Oil Exploration in Overseas Territories

Formosa 4 Offshore Wind Substation Enters Fabrication Phase

Mozambique and TotalEnergies Restart Stalled $20B LNG Project

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News