TEHRAN – Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said will arrive in Iran today to negotiate with Iranian officials on oil, gas, and electricity projects.

Speaking to reporters prior to his trip to Iran, the Indonesian minister said his country is pursuing cooperation with Iran, although sanctions on Iran have not been lifted, the IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

“Many countries are being prepared to enter the Iranian market and we should not be the last one,” he said.

Indonesia is in dire need of natural gas and bitumen for its power sector, the Indonesian official said.

A memorandum of understanding for long-term oil supply was signed between Iranian and Indonesian companies in February 2014.

Indonesia is building four refineries, each with capacities ranging between 300,000 bpd and 350,000 bpd, to cut its dependency on oil product imports.

The country also seeks to return to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.