SHANA -- A senior Iranian oil official said the country was planning to entrust 6 billion dollars' worth of enhanced oil recovery and production sustainability projects to domestic companies.

Gholamreza Manouchehri, deputy CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for Engineering and Development Affairs, said once NIOC's 34 working packages valued at $6 billion become operational, a favorable working atmosphere will be created for domestic contractors and manufacturers.

He said the packages concern crude oil production enhancement and maintenance ordered by the National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) and the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company.

The projects will set in motion the country's contracting industry in oil sector and a considerable number of jobs will be created afterwards, the official added.

He further said that the development projects of phases 13, 14 and 22 to 24 of the supergiant South Pars Gas Field will become operational by the end of the current Iranian calendar year to March 20.

Referring to Phase 11 development, Manouchehri said the licensing rounds and designs of the project have been carried out and the result of the tenders have been served to the contractors.

"In case Total pulls out of the project, leadership of the plan will be entrusted to the CNPC International, otherwise, Iran's Petropars will continue the project," he said.