Dubai, Mar 1 (UNI) Indian companies have shown interest to participate in the tendering of 17 Iranian oil blocks, said a top official in charge of exploration at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

The official did not name the companies, but said 90 foreign firms had shown interest in the blocks.

Iran has opened facilities to offer information to companies interested in participating in the tenders for the new blocks, five of which are offshore and the rest onshore.

Covering an area of 1,28,980 square kilometres, the 17 blocks are located in Khorassan Razavi, North Khorassan, Semnan, Ardebil and some part of East Azarbaijan, Golestan, some areas of Ilam and Kermanshah, Fars, and Hormuzgan provinces.

The 12 blocks of Quchan, Kalat, Raz, Maraveh Tappeh, Moghan I&II, Naftshahr, Ilam, Danan, Fassa, and Bandar Abbas are onshore and the rest five, Alvand, Deir, Ferdows, Laleh and Taban are in the Caspian Sea waters.

Iran, the world's fourth biggest oil exporter, offered the blocks for oil and gas exploration which is expected to raise at least 599 million dollars in foreign investment.

NIOC is aiming to boost its crude output capacity to 5.3 million barrels per day by 2015 from around 4.2 million barrels per day now.

UNI