Anti-Competitive Conducts of Foreign Oil Companies at the IPC Tender Stage and Competition Law Sanctions in this Regard

Foreign oil companies' entry into IPC tenders has been made subject to conclusion of JVs with qualified Iranian E&P companies. However, the law does not require FOCs to select their IEPC by means of competitive methods. Moreover, as IEPCs do not possess the required abilities to independently enter major petroleum projects, it is inevitable for them to engage in JVs with FOCs. Meanwhile, due to sanctions imposed on Iran, the number of FOCs willing to enter the IPC tenders has decreased, and so there is a higher chance of abuse of dominance or collusion practiced by these FOCs during the course of IPC tenders. This essay serves as an endeavor to demonstrate the anti-competitive conducts likely to be pursued by FOCs against IEPCs (in the course of entering the JV) and against NIOC (in the tender process), and to clarify the competition law sanctions applicable to FOCs in this regard.