TEHRAN, July 18 (Shana) � Managing director of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said the company is preparing the preliminaries for issuing the first tender based on newly-developed oil contracts to develop the country's oil and gas fields, adding the company will release a vendor list of eligible international energy companies for developing the fields.

Ali Kardor said on Monday that a call for identifying international companies active in oil and gas fields will be issued in the near future and the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum's list of the candidates will be released in a short time.

Speaking at a gathering of the Development and Engineering Department of NIOC with developers of West Karoon, South Pars and Naft Khazar oil and gas fields, the official said: "Not all foreign companies active in oil industry can partake in Iran's tenders, so only those international companies that meet NIOC's standards will be chosen."

He said after their choice, companies can partake in tenders by NIOC.

He said E&P and IOC companies will be the first companies to be allowed in tenders.

Kardor said disregarding American companies, there are 37 companies in the world that meet the required standards for taking part in NIOC tenders.

He said NIOC will issue a vendor list within the next two months.

By SHANA