The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has released the list of 29 qualified foreign oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) companies for attending tenders aimed at developing upstream projects in Irans oil sector, in big step to opening up Irans oil and gasfields to western investment.

NIOC is planning to put to a round of tenders several upstream oil and gas projects and has invited these 29 companies to partake in the bids.

The companies are from countries like Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Malaysia, Russia, Austria, Thailand, Japan, Poland, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, China, etc.

The companies include: CEPSA Spain, CNPC, Eni, Gasprom, Japan Petroleum Exploration, Korea Gas Corporation, Lukoil, Maersk, Mitsui, OMV, ONGC Videsh Limited, Pertamina, Petronas, Shell, Total, and Schlumberger.

Here you can find the complete list of the qualified companies.