TEHRAN, IRAN (Commodity Online): Iranian national companies have the technological expertise needed to develop the Azar oil field in the west of the country, officials said.

Rokneddin Javadi, the managing director of the Oil Industries Engineering and Construction group, said Iranian companies were comparable to foreign companies in their ability to exploit oil reserves.

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"OIEC has presented the National Iranian Oil Co. with a preliminary plan and at the same time intends to continue negotiations in order to reach an agreement to develop the Azar field," Javadi told Shana, the Oil Ministry's Web site.

Iranian officials say the field could produce as much as 55,000 barrels of oil per day. Executives with the NIOC said last week that Tehran may look to Russian energy giant Gazprom as a possible partner for the Azar field.

The Azar field lies in Ilam province in western Iran. Tehran in October announced development of the field was expected "within three to four months.(EUNewsNet.com and OfficialWire)