The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) published a list of 29 IOCs on 2 January which have been qualified to bid for upstream assets under the terms of the new IPC. The first tender is planned to take place in the next three months and Iranian officials maintain that the 50,000 b/d South Azadegan will be offered first.

The deadline for submitting pre-qualification documentation was pushed back twice from 19 November to 10 December. Shortly before the deadline, on 5 December, NIOC Managing Director Ali Kardor said 50 firms had submitted documents – this has now been whittled down to 29. (CONTINUED - 1177 WORDS)