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By John Lee.

As part of Iraq's government-backed gas development programme, the Ministry of Oil has reported significant progress in reducing gas flaring and increasing gas utilisation.

It says the Ministry has raised associated gas capture from 53% to 70%, and dry gas production from 1,300 to 1,800 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).

Key projects already completed or underway include:

• Halfaya Gas Project (Missan): 300 mmscfd
• Basra Gas Company (BGC) (BNGL1 and BNGL2): 200 mmscfd each
• Artawi [Ratawi] Gas Project (TotalEnergies contract): 600 mmscfd
• Faihaa Field Gas Project: 130 mmscfd
• Nahr Bin Umar Field (Basra): 300 mmscfd
• Gharraf and Nassiriya Fields: 200 mmscfd
• Akkas Gas Field (Anbar): 40 mmscfd
• Accelerated Artawi Project: 50 mmscfd

The government aims to end routine flaring by 2028 and increase gas output to 3,000 mmscfd by 2030, aligning with Iraq's environmental commitments under the 2016 Paris Agreement.

In liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), production rose from 2 million tonnes in 2024 to 3 million tonnes in 2025. Exports also surged from 250,000 tonnes in 2023 to 1 million tonnes in 2025. LPG systems were installed in over 41,000 homes and more than 38,000 vehicles.

To expand storage capacity, the Ministry completed 8 of 16 spherical LPG tanks, each with a 3,000-cubic-metre capacity, adding 24,000 cubic metres overall.

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to maximise national resource utilisation, enhance electricity supply, and boost petrochemical production. Gas field contracts under the 5th and 6th licensing rounds have been awarded to international companies, alongside dozens of investment agreements to develop both associated and free gas resources.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

Wood selected by TotalEnergies to advance Ratawi field redevelopment in Iraq, as part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project

Wood, a global leader in consulting and engineering, has been awarded two new engineering and procurement framework agreements worth $11 million by TotalEnergies EP Ratawi Hub as part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), a multi-energy project designed to enhance the development of Iraq's natural resources and improve the country's electricity supply at the Ratawi field in Iraq.

Each of the new contracts has a three-year term under which Wood will support TotalEnergies to advance the Associated Gas Upstream Project (AGUP), a key part of the GGIP project. The aim is to debottleneck and upgrade existing facilities to increase energy production capacity to 120,000 barrels of oil per day on completion of the first phase.

Shaun Dewar, Senior Vice President of Operations, Middle East and Africa at Wood said:

"We have an extensive track record in brownfield facility modifications and are committed to delivering safe, quality and innovative outcomes for TotalEnergies. Wood has supported the Ratawi field since 2023.

"We have held six recruitment days, hiring 70 Iraqis to work at the Ratawi operations hub across a range of disciplines including HSE, logistics, quality, construction, welding, electrical and document control."

The contracts will be delivered by Wood's teams in Basra and the United Arab Emirates, creating additional roles as the scopes progress. Wood currently employs over 4,000 people across the Middle East, having increased its headcount by 500 in 2024.

Wood is already providing engineering design, detailed design, procurement support and construction and commissioning assistance for the first phase of the AGUP.

Learn more about Wood in Iraq.

By John Lee.

Iraq's Council of Ministers has endorsed the Joint Management Committee's decision on Artawi [Ratawi] oil field, awarding the contract for crude gas pipelines to China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (CPP), with part of the work assigned to the State Company for Oil Projects (SCOP).

The pipelines will run from the Majnoon, West Qurna-2, and Artawi fields to the Gas Processing Plant (GPP).

The contract also includes pipelines for dry gas transmission to the national network and condensate and LPG pipelines,

(Sources: PMO)

By John Lee.

Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC) has granted its first solar power investment license for a 1,000 MW project to France's TotalEnergies, marking what it described as a major step in the country's transition to renewable energy.

NIC Chairman Dr Haider Mohammed Makiyya [Makia] confirmed that construction work has begun at the Ratawi [Artawi] oilfield in Basra, following the financial closure of the project. The 9,000-dunam facility will house two million solar panels across four generation units.

Additionally, NIC is finalising requirements for a second 1,000 MW solar license for an Emirati company, with planned locations in southern and western Iraq.

(Source: NIC)

By John Lee.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a meeting on Sunday to assess summer electricity supply plans and the progress of oil sector projects.

The Minister of Electricity outlined strategies to ensure stable power supply, including fuel station operations, while the Minister of Oil detailed fuel supply plans for power plants, including floating and mobile platforms under review.

Key decisions included:

• Completion of a gas transmission line from Basra's power plants to a floating platform.
• Approval of a new 40km gas pipeline from Al-Mahmoudiya to Bismayah to ensure full-capacity operation of the Bismayah power plant.
• Assessment of fuel oil supply, storage, and import logistics.

The meeting also reviewed strategic oil projects, including:

• Basra-Haditha oil pipeline.
• Seawater supply pipelines and treatment plant at Basra Oil Company (BOC).
• Offshore pipeline expansions (third, fourth, and fifth phases).
• Artawi [Ratawi] gas complex (Phase II).
• Mansouriya, Akkas, and Faihaa [Block 9] field developments.
• FCC fluid catalytic cracking unit project.
• Fifth and sixth licensing rounds.

The meeting assessed progress on government program projects, with an update on execution rates as of February 2025.

(Source: PMO)

By John Lee.

On Friday, TotalEnergies (45%, operator) and its partners Basra Oil Company (BOC) (30%) and QatarEnergy (25%) launched today the construction works of ArtawiGas25, a first processing facility for the associated gas from the Ratawi [Artawi] field, in the Basra region.

This facility, which is part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), represents an investment of around USD 250 million and will process 50 million cubic feet per day (Mcf/d) of gas previously flared. The gas will supply local power plants, covering the demand of approximately 200,000 households in the Basra region.

Signed in September 2021, the GGIP project is a $10-billion multi-energy project designed to enhance the development of Iraq's natural resources and improve the country's electricity supply. The GGIP includes a large-scale gas processing plant, with a first phase of 300 Mcf/d that will recover gas being flared on three oil fields and supply gas to 1.5 GW of power generation capacity.

According to a statement from TotalEnergies, in anticipation of the start-up of this main gas processing facility, the ArtawiGas25 project will significantly reduce gas flaring at the Ratawi field as early as end 2025. "The innovative modular design of ArtawiGas25 could also pave the way for potential replication across other Iraqi oil fields. ArtawiGas25 will create up to 160 direct and indirect jobs for Iraqi nationals during construction phase and 30 jobs during operation phase."

Julien Pouget, Senior Vice President Middle East & North Africa, Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies, said:

"We are very pleased to launch the ArtawiGas25 project: it will give the Iragi people a tangible insight into the benefits of the GGIP, which will provide more energy with less emissions. Through this project, TotalEnergies is demonstrating its capacity to deliver valuable and fast-track solutions in accordance with the government's expectations and the country's electricity needs. We look forward to the next GGIP milestones in the coming weeks with the start of construction of the 1 GW solar project."

(Sources: TotalEnergies, Ministry of Oil)

By Simon Watkins for OilPrice.com. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Who Is Playing Who In The Great Iraq Carve-Up?

Last week's announcement that the China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC, Energy China) is to work with the French firm TotalEnergies on the roll-out of the 1-gigawatt solar power project at the Ratawi [Artawi] field in Basra has come as something of a surprise, to say the least.

So, what on earth is going on?

Click here to read the full report.

By John Lee.

China Energy Engineering Corporation (Energy China, CEEC) and France's TotalEnergies have signed an EPC contract for a 1-GW solar power project at the Ratawi [Artawi] field in Basra.

According to a statement from Energy China:

"This project is the first large-scale project in the Iraqi government's PV construction plan, and serves as a significant milestone in CEEC's commitment to international capacity cooperation and its collaboration with multinational companies to tap into overseas renewable energy markets and drive global energy transformation.

"The project is situated in the Basra Province in southern Iraq, approximately 70 kilometers away from the city of Basra. The EPC service encompasses the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the PV power plant site and a 132 kV booster station, with an AC side capacity of 1 GW.

"Once completed, it is projected to generate 2.9 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.385 million tons.

"The project will meet Iraq's growing electricity demands, facilitate the optimization of its power structure, and accelerate its economic reconstruction.

"The project will be jointly promoted and implemented by China Energy International Group Co., Ltd., Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd., and CPECC Southwest Electric Power Design Institute, Co., Ltd.

"It is expected to officially start construction by the end of this year and be completed in early 2027. The project will adhere to a high degree of localization, creating ample employment opportunities and stimulating regional economic development.

"CEEC has been involved in numerous high-quality projects in Iraq since entering the Iraqi market in 2011. These projects include the 650 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Expansion Project in Al-Basra, the 2X610 MW Power Plant in Wasit, the 2X47 MW Gas Power Plant in Maysan, the 2X125 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Amarah, Maysan, the 2X630 MW Power Plant in Salahaddin, and the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) project in Suwaira.

"Moving forward, China Energy International Group Co., Ltd. will take the signing of the project to actively take a leading and coordinating role, collaborate with member companies, innovate development strategies, leverage its strong professional capabilities and extensive experience in project delivery, and promote the alignment between the Belt and Road cooperation and Iraq's reconstruction plan."

(Source: CEEC)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Ministry of Electricity and the French company TotalEnergies have signed two contracts to produce 1,000 megawatts of solar power.

The development will be built in four, 250-MW phases at the Ratawi [Artawi] field in Basra.

According to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), it will be completed within two years.

(Sources: INA; Govt of Iraq)

By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad.

Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

TotalEnergies Agreement Smells Filthy

The more information becomes available about this agreement, the more it exposes the extent of unfairness and damage to Iraq national interest, and the deception or scandal of "investing $27 billion" that was propagating and promoting this agreement. ⁽¹⁾

The Ministry of Oil (MoO) keeps mute; insists on a complete blackout and not publishing the terms of this odious agreement with TotalEnergies and contracts of its four projects. But available information indicates, so far, three very serious and financially costly direct disadvantages or burdens, particularly relating to Ratawi [Artawi] oilfield, in addition to the indirect burdens and consequences.

The first burden is represented by adopting a base line production (BLP) in the aforementioned field that is 27 thousand barrels per day (bpd) less than its actual production capacity; resulting in "gross" export revenues loss by Iraq estimated at $817 million annually. The corresponding "net" export revenues losses are less than that, depending on the details of the contract for developing this field, which is still kept secret!

The second burden relates to TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy companies share in the profits generated from the field's current production capacity, without they investing a single dollar in this field's current production capacity.

The amount that Iraq loses from this illegal and unjustifiable participation was estimated in six cases, the total of which ranges between $2.365 billion and $12.795 billion throughout the duration of the contract.

The third burden is represented by reducing Basra Oil Company's (BOC) share, to 30%, less than it should be, which is 41.43%. This causes huge losses, including the net profits throughout the contract period starting from August 16, 2023, in addition to the lack of clarity about the fate of $1.8 billion worth of fixed assets in Artawi oilfield!!

Click here to read the full article.

Mr Jiyad is an independent development consultant, scholar and Associate with the former Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES), London. He was formerly a senior economist with the Iraq National Oil Company and Iraq's Ministry of Oil, Chief Expert for the Council of Ministers, Director at the Ministry of Trade, and International Specialist with UN organizations in Uganda, Sudan and Jordan. He is now based in Norway (Email: mou-jiya(at)online.no, Skype ID: Ahmed Mousa Jiyad). Read more of Mr Jiyad's biography here.