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By John Lee.

Prime Minister Mr. Mohammed S. Al-Sudani attended the final signing ceremony of the contracts for the fifth licensing round for border zones and fields, held on Tuesday 21st February at the headquarters of the Ministry of Oil.

The Prime Minister pointed out that implementing the fifth licensing round was delayed for five years, causing significant losses and great environmental damage to Iraq.

His Excellency also emphasized that the endeavors for the investment of the associated gas and natural gas stem from a firm determination to achieve economic reforms, which are the main focus of the government program.

These contracts relate to the development and production of six fields and exploratory blocks in border areas, which were granted to the following companies:

Development blocks:

• Gilabat-Qumar [Kalabat], in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Khashim Ahmer-Injana [Khasham Al-Ahmar], in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Huwaiza, in Missan (Maysan): Geo Jade Petroleum (China)
• Khudher Al-Mai [Khider al-Mai], in Basra and Muthana: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)

Exploration blocks:

• Naft Khana, in Diyala: Geo-Jade Petroleum (China)
• Sindibad [Sindbad] field in Basra: United Energy Group (UEG) (Hong Kong)

(Source: Media Office of the Prime Minister)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, has announced that the final signing of contracts for the fifth round of energy licences will take place next week.

These contracts relate to the development and production of six fields and exploratory blocks in border areas, which were granted to the following companies:

Development blocks:

• Gilabat-Qumar, in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Khashim Ahmer-Injana, in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Huwaiza, in Missan (Maysan): Geo Jade Petroleum (China)
• Khudher Al-Mai [Khider al-Mai], in Basra and Muthana: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)

Exploration blocks:

• Naft Khana, in Diyala: Geo-Jade Petroleum (China)
• Sindibad [Sindbad] field in Basra: United Energy Group (UEG) (Hong Kong)

Abdul-Ghani emphasised the importance of finalising the signing and activation of the contracts in order to speed up the development of the fields.

The Council of Ministers had approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Energy on February 7, 2023.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Council of Ministers has approved the recommendation of the Economic Energy Council to sign contracts for the fifth energy licensing round.

According to a government statement, the fifth-round projects had been suspended for four years due to "a complaint about the correctness of the procedures." It adds that, "after this file went to financial control and integrity, it was finally found that the procedures are sound and the issue was resolved."

It says one of the companies operating in the project can provide a quarter of the amount of imported gas within 15 months, and the government's goal is to cover all the currently-imported gas within 3 years.

"Imported gas costs up to 10 trillion dinars annually in the budget. After three years, the project will provide these amounts, and they will be transferred to health, education and housing, within the framework of economic reform," it adds.

In April 2018, Iraq's Ministy of Oil initially awarded the fifth round licences as follows:

Development blocks:

• Gilabat-Qumar, in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Khashim Ahmer-Injana, in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Huwaiza, in Missan (Maysan): Geo Jade Petroleum (China)
• Khudher Al-Mai [Khider al-Mai], in Basra and Muthana: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)

Exploration blocks:

• Naft Khana, in Diyala: Geo-Jade Petroleum (China)
• Sindibad [Sindbad] field in Basra: United Energy Group (UEG) (Hong Kong)
• Zurbatiya [Zurbatia], in Wasit and Diyala: not awarded
• Shihabi in Missan and Wasit: not awarded
• Fao, in Basra: not awarded
• Jebel Sanam [Jabal Sanam], in Basra: not awarded
• Offshore Gulf block: not awarded

A sixth licensing round, which will target natural gas fields, will soon be announced.

More here and here.

(Source: Govt of Iraq)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Ministy of Oil has awarded all four development projects, and two of the seven exploration blocks, that it offered in its fifth auction of oil licences.

Only nine of the 26 companies originally pre-qualified took part in the auction, with majors such as Lukoil (Russia), ExxonMobil (US) and Total (France) not bidding.

Development blocks:

• Gilabat-Qumar, in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Khashim Ahmer-Injana, in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Huwaiza, in Missan (Maysan): Geo Jade Petroleum (China)
• Khudher Al-Mai [Khider al-Mai], in Basra and Muthana: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)

Exploration blocks:

• Naft Khana, in Diyala: Geo-Jade Petroleum (China)
• Sindibad [Sindbad] field in Basra: United Energy Group (UEG) (Hong Kong)
• Zurbatiya [Zurbatia], in Wasit and Diyala: not awarded
• Shihabi in Missan and Wasit: not awarded
• Fao, in Basra: not awarded
• Jebel Sanam [Jabal Sanam], in Basra: not awarded
• Offshore Gulf block: not awarded

Abdul Mahdi al-Ameedi, director general of the Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate (PCLD), told Reuters that the failure of five blocks to attract bids was due to a combination of factors, including the fact that some of them cover former battlefields, some are hard to access, and the one offshore plot needs more data.

He said another round could be held for those five blocks.

More details here from Iraq Oil Report (subscription required)

(Sources: Iraq Oil Report, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate (PCLD) has announced the five additional companies have been approved to bid for Iraq's "borderline onshore & offshore exploration blocks & fields."

The companies are listed as:

• Dana Gas (UAE)
• Dragon Oil (UAE)
• Geo-Jade Petroleum (China)
• Schlumberger (USA)
• Zarubezhneft (Russia)

Eight companies had applied for approval.

The five successful companies will be eligible to compete along with the following companies which are qualified from previous licensing rounds:

• BP (United Kingdom)
• China Zhenhua Oil Company (China)
• China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) (China)
• China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) (China)
• Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
• Daqing (China)
• Eni (Italy)
• ExxonMobil (US)
• Gazprom (Russia)
• Itochu (Japan)
• JSOC Bashneft (Russia)
• Kogas (Korea Gas Corporation) (South Korea)
• Lukoil (Russia)
• ONGC Videsh (India)
• Pakistan Petroleum (Pakistan)
• Pertamina (Indonesia)
• Petronas (Malaysia)
• Shell (Netherlands/UK)
• Sinopec (China)
• United Energy Group (UEG) (China)
• Total (France)

The areas to be offered include the onshore exploration blocks of Khudher Al-Mai, Jebel Sanam (Jabal Sanam) and Umm-Qasr on the Kuwaiti border; the Sindbad, Huwaiza, Shihabi, Zurbatia and Naft Khana blocks on the Iranian border; and the offshore exploration blocks in the Iraqi regional waters of the Arab gulf.

The bidding process should commence in May, according to the following schedule:

(Source: Oil Ministry)

By John Lee.

Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi [Allibi] (pictured) has announced exploration and rehabilitation projects for nine exploration blocks in Iraq.

These include the onshore exploration blocks of Khudher Al-Mai, Jebel Sanam (Jabal Sanam) and Umm-Qasr on the Kuwaiti border; the Sindbad, Huwaiza, Shihabi, Zurbatia and Naft Khana blocks on the Iranian border; and the offshore exploration blocks in the Iraqi regional waters of the Arab gulf.

The Ministry's Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate (PCLD) will prepare all the related technical data for companies that wish to buy them and participate in the competition to rehabilitate the exploration blocks.

He said also that the foreign companies not yet qualified but wanting to participate can present their technical, financial, legal, health & safety, security and environmental information and documents to the PCLD.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

The group of US investors held talks with local officials in Basra about establishing a tourist project on Sindbad Island [Sinbad Island], a source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on Wednesday.

A delegation from the group discussed the project with Basra's Governor, Shaltagh Abboud, and Deputy Chairman of Basra Council, Ahmad al-Sulieti.

“The project includes the establishment of several malls, hotels and entertainment centres,” he said, noting that the governor expressed his enthusiasm to facilitate such projects.

Many expect Iraq to become the next tourist hot-spot, and visitors can now book travel insurance to Iraq online.

(Source: Aswat al-Iraq)

Basra, 11 May 2010 - Aswat Al Iraq

The World Bank agreed to finance a project to rehabilitate the road linking Umm Qasr port with Basra city, Basra governor said on Monday.

“The World Bank’s agreement allowed a Danish company to implement the project, in cooperation with a local company,” Shaltagh Abboud Mayah told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The rehabilitation of this road will develop the Iraqi ports’ work as it considered the main road for goods and cargos arrived in the port from abroad,” he added.

The governor announced also two more projects in Basra; the first is the rehabilitation of Khaled Ibn al-Walied bridge and the reconstruction of Sindbad touristic island,” he said.