Big companies from India and China have shown interest for operating oil and gas projects in Iran, a deputy head of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said.

Mohammad-Ali Emadi said India’s ONGC and China’s CNOOC expressed willingness for Iran’s projects during a recent meeting of national oil companies in Colombia.

He said the meeting was also attended by Algeria’s Sonatrach, Mexico’s Pemex, Colombia’s Ecopetrol, Turkey’s Tapco and Argentina’s YPA.

Emadi said the ONGC suggested continuation of activity in Farzad B field under a production sharing agreement. He said he also discussed cooperation with the manager of CNOOC which is the largest oil company in China.

Argentina’s YPA showed interest in the development of Iran’s gas fields, according to Emadi. He said Algeria’s national oil company voiced readiness for cooperating in enhanced recovery projects with Iran. “PEMEX was willing to cooperate with Iran in enhanced recovery and particularly nitrogen gas injection into Cantarell field in that country,” said Emadi.

He said Turkey also said it is interested in investing in Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field.