Download or read book Firms Reported in Open Sources as Having Commercial Activity in Iran s Oil Gas and Petrochemical Sectors written by Joseph A. Christoff and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using open source information, we identified 16 foreign firms that had commercial activity in Iran's oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors from January 2010 through May 2011, including 2 firms not listed in our prior report. According to our review of reliable open sources, foreign firms have significantly decreased commercial activity in Iran's oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors since we last reported. Twenty of the 41 firms listed in our 2010 report declared in their public reporting or in letters to GAO, which were also confirmed by State, that they have withdrawn or are withdrawing from commercial activity in Iran's energy sector. The companies that withdrew from Iran cited several reasons for ceasing activity, including sanctions imposed by the U.S. government, as well as other international organizations, and the difficulty associated with conducting business with Iran. According to Oil and Gas Journal, Iran's oil production could fall by more than 25 percent over the next 5 years because of a lack of investment in the country's energy sector. However, IHS Global Insight and DOE report that Indian and Chinese state oil companies have increased interest in the construction of Iranian refineries, and Iran is looking to India and China to increase development of oil exploration and production. Of the 16 foreign firms identified as having commercial activities in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors in the latest review period, two firms have U.S. government contracts totaling approximately $4 million in obligated funds. In comparison, our 2010 report found that the U.S. government obligated almost $880 million in contracts to 7 of the 41 firms having commercial activity in the Iranian energy sectors between 2005 and 2009. However, by May 2011, 5 of these 7 companies had withdrawn from commercial activity in Iran's energy sector.