West geopolitics factor of oil scarcity-Total CEO

By Marie Maitre

PARIS, Oct 11 (Reuters) - As global demand for oil and gas rises, consumer countries cannot afford to blacklist producing countries on geopolitical grounds, the head of Total (TOTF.PA), which is present in Iran and Myanmar, said on Thursday.

"The problem is that some reserves are locked up, either because producing countries have other considerations or because of the geopolitics," Christophe de Margerie told a seminar organized by the French employers' federation MEDEF.

"I am not talking about resource nationalism from host countries, I am talking about the geopolitical game of consumer countries who want to have their cake and eat it," he said.

Total has recently been put on the spot for its presence in Iran, which is locked in a standoff with Western powers over its nuclear programme, and for remaining in Myanmar despite a bloody crackdown on peaceful protests against the country's military rulers.

The world's fourth-biggest Western energy group by market capitalisation has defended its presence in both countries.

"It's all well to say 'we want more oil, we want more gas' but you can't point your finger at certain (producing) countries" that are not democratic, Margerie said.

"I am not here to do politics or give lessons, certainly not, but we (energy groups) are here to say 'this is the situation and this is how much (production) you are taking out of the market with your (political) decisions'," he said.

"They don't like it, generally speaking - I am not talking about France - when we tell them there is a problem."

Last week, Margerie told French newspaper Le Monde that Total was under "very strong" pressure from the United States to withdraw from Iran. France has also asked French companies to exercise restraint in dealing with Iran and Myanmar.

Margerie said on Thursday Total would press on with talks on Pars LNG, Iran's first liquefied natural gas export terminal, a project he says requires a $15 billion investment, adding Total would look at the political situation only once a deal is ready.

"We can't produce if we are forbidden to. Every one has to take their responsibilities," he said, after pointing out that the world needed a return to normal production levels in countries like Iran, Iraq, Nigeria and Venezuela in order to meet consumption needs of around 100 million barrels per day by 2030.