TEHRAN- The first consignment of Germany’s Siemens AG to Iran after removal of the sanctions against the Islamic Republic arrived in the Iranian southern port of Assaluyeh on February 26, said Hassan Boyeri, the director of South Pars gas field’s phases 17 and 18 development project.

Boyeri said the consignment including compressors and turbines has been seized and kept in a port in the United Arab Emirates and also in the Netherlands during the past three years due to the sanctions imposed on Iran, the Shana news agency reported on Sunday.

In a meeting with Joe Kaeser, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens AG, in Tehran on February 22 Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told Siemens it could start joint ventures with any Iranian company and export equipment to regional markets using the Siemens brand.

Siemens was already planning to work with Iran’s Oil Turbo Compressor Company, Shana said.  

Siemens said it could not comment on individual customers, contracts or agreements.  

German industrial group Siemens is stepping up its efforts to win projects in Iran. 

"We want to pick up where we left off," Siemens said in a statement, citing its engagement in Iran since 1868, especially in the energy sector and rail transportation. "We see great pent-up demand." 

Siemens stopped doing new business in Iran in 2010 but last month signed deals to work on Iran's railway infrastructure worth up to €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) in anticipation of Western sanctions against Iran being lifted.  

"We never left the country and stand by our commitment also in difficult times, always compliant with international regulations. We'll now be stepping up our efforts toward continuing this long tradition," Siemens said.  

The chief executive of Siemens rival General Electric's oil and gas division also visited Iran recently, GE said earlier this month.  

MA/