By John Lee.
Iraq's Ministry of Oil has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with French oil company Total.
According to a statement from the Ministry, both sides have "achieved advanced cooperation steps towards implementing large projects in the oil and energy sector."
The document was signed in Baghdad by Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail and the CEO of Total, Patrick Pouyanné.
(Source: Iraqi Ministry of Oil)
This is puzzling!
From one side the ministry is trying to bring western companies at the same time they are making the largest westering company to leave.
The recent news on ExxonMobil sale of West Quran1to the chines CNOOC is inconsistent with this development and it is hard to believe that the deal with TOTAL will materialize.
I don't think the deal will materialize
Precisely!!
Nevertheless, we wish Total all the best without any hurdles & corruption. Though Total needs to apply best professional, transparent and competitive procedures.
Thanks