Archive | Iraq Oil & Gas News

Iraq Business News brings you the latest information on developments and opportunities in the oil and gas industry in Iraq.

Gazprom Connects Badra to Main Pipeline

Gazprom Neft has completed laying, testing and connecting a 165 km oil pipeline from the Badra field, which the Company operates in Iraq, to the Gharraf oilfield (Nasiriyah district, Iraq). With infrastructure already in place at Gharraf, completion of the pipeline from Badra means that the field is now connected to the main Iraqi pipeline […]

Genel Releases Full Year Results

Genel Energy has announced its preliminary audited results for the year ended 31 December 2013: Results summary KRI export pipeline infrastructure complete and in the commissioning phase. Volumes of KRI oil in storage at Ceyhan continue to grow Turkey-KRG Gas Sales Agreement a significant milestone in the commercialisation of Miran and Bina Bawi gas fields […]

Iraq May Build Refinery in Sudan

By John Lee. The Minister for Oil Abdul Kareem Luaibi [Elaibi] has received the Sudanese Minister of Oil, Mr. Makkawi M. Awadh, and his delegation in his office in Baghdad. Following the meeting, Mr. Luaibi said: "We discussed [how] to supply Sudan with crude oil, as well as the possibility to participate in building a […]

Total Considers "World-Scale" Petrochemical Plant

By John Lee. French oil giant Total is reported to be considering building a "world-scale" petrochemical complex in Iraq. AFP reports that Patrick Pouyanne, the head of Total's refining and chemicals division, said he signed a preliminary accord with Iraq's industry ministry in November to examine the feasibility of the complex in Basra. "They are […]

Baghdad's "Financial Blockade"

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Baghdad's Financial Blockade: Iraqi Kurdistan Talks Independence While Locals Strike Conflict between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan over oil exports has resulted in something of a financial crisis in the northern region. […]

$4.7bn for Electricity Sector in 2014

By John Lee. The Iraqi government has allocated $4.7 billion to build power plants and finance existing electricity projects this year. Electricity ministry spokesperson Masaab Al-Mudarris told Zawya: "As part of its 2014 plan, the Ministry of Electricity requested a budget of $12 billion to complete existing projects and to sign new contracts to compensate for […]

KRG Spokesman: Talks Useful, But No Agreement

By John Lee. Following remarks by Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussein al-Shahristani (pictured) that Kurdish Regional Government oil exports will go through the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) officials from the KRG have moved to clarify that this is not in fact the case. KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee remarked to reporters that while discussions […]

Sonangol Pulls Out of Iraq

By John Lee. Angola's Sonangol has decided to abandon its Qayara and Najmah oilfields in Nineveh province due to security problems. Reuters reports that Anabela Fonseca, Sonangol board member in charge of international investments, told a news conference: "Our presence in Iraq was as an operator in an area with much conflict. Last year we […]

Luaibi to IOCs: We're Here to Help

By John Lee. Iraqi oil minister Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi (pictured) has moved to reassure major IOCs in the wake of growing disgruntlement over bureaucracy. He remarked to reporters that his ministry " is keen to provide all kinds of support and cooperation for all international companies operating in Iraq, including contracting with companies within the oil […]

ENI Stays in Last Minute Deal, Sonangol Exits

By John Lee. Tense negotiations between Baghdad and Italy's ENI came to a close just hours before ENI was supposedly going to call time on their Iraq operations, Reuters reports. ENI CEO Paulo Scaroni made his dissatisfaction clear to reporters on Tuesday before the new deal was struck, stating, "If they do not sign the contracts […]

Petrofac Results and Operational Update

By John Lee. In its final results announcement this morning, Petrofac gave the following update on its operations in Iraq: Maintenance services, Iraq In August 2013, we were awarded a second contract by Gazprom Neft Badra B.V. (Gazprom) on the Badra oil field, situated 160 kilometres southeast of Baghdad. Worth US$95 million over three years, […]

Iraq Leads Region with $519bn in Planned Projects

By John Lee. Iraq is now among the biggest spenders in the Middle East when it comes to planned or under-way infrastructure projects, rivalling the expenditure of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to the MEED's Gulf Project's Index. Iraq's southern neighbours are spending $1.o5 trillion and $713bn respectively,but Iraq's rising expenditure on energy projects […]