TOKYO: Iraq hopes to reach a decision in less than a month on the huge Nassiriya oilfield, the country's oil minister said yesterday.

Leading Japanese refiner Nippon Oil, together with oil explorer Inpex and plant engineering firm JGC, are vying with Italy's Eni for the oilfield's engineering, procurement and construction contract.

Oil Minister Hussain Al Shahristani, in Japan to meet with government officials and companies including Nippon Oil, said he hoped "it wouldn't take more than a month" to reach a decision.

"We are at the final stage of choosing the winning bid," and an annoucement will be made as soon as financial arrangements are finalised, he said.

Japanese Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai, who met Al Shahristani on Thursday, said the Japanese government was giving full support to the participation of Japanese companies in Iraqi projects.