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By John Lee.

The Ministry of Oil has reviewed progress on the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) in Basra during a site visit to the Artawi [Ratawi] oilfield.

Undersecretary for Extraction Affairs Bassem Mohammed Khudair inspected key projects being implemented by TotalEnergies, in partnership with QatarEnergy and Basra Oil Company (BOC).

The visit covered the first Central Processing Facility (CPF1), where rehabilitation works are more than 80% complete and are expected to double production capacity from 60,000 to 120,000 barrels per day. The Artawi-PS1 export pipeline project was also inspected, with completion reaching 95%.

Mr Khudair also reviewed the accelerated gas investment project, with a design capacity of 50 million standard cubic feet per day, aimed at reducing gas flaring and utilising associated gas for productive purposes. The project is scheduled for handover in May 2026.

In addition, he was briefed on progress at the solar power project with a planned capacity of 1,000 megawatts, noting that the first phase is expected to add 250 megawatts to the national grid in March.

The ministry said work across the projects is advancing steadily, with around 7,100 personnel currently employed, 85% of whom are Iraqi nationals, alongside the participation of several local companies.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

By John Lee.

Iraq and Qatar have discussed steps to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, including advancing an investment protection and promotion agreement and expanding joint projects.

The talks covered opportunities to diversify Iraq's import sources through Gulf states, improve logistics routes, and reduce transport costs by making greater use of advanced Qatari port services. Both sides also explored broader cooperation in industry, services, trade and infrastructure, aimed at improving the investment environment and encouraging partnerships between Iraqi and Qatari businesses.

Preparations were reviewed for the next session of the Iraq-Qatar Joint Committee, with emphasis on activating this framework to deepen cooperation and expand public- and private-sector partnerships. The two sides stressed the importance of continued consultation and institutional engagement to support economic stability and mutual interests.

(Sources: Iraqi Ministry of Trade / Qatari Ministry of Commerce and Industry)

By John Lee.

A new infant formula plant has begun construction in Baghdad, marking the launch of Iraq's first factory dedicated to producing baby milk and fortified nutrition products.

The facility, the Mohannad Ali Abdullah Infant Formula Factory, is being built by the Qatari construction company Magnum and will manufacture infant formula for the Turkish company Kulalac, producer of the Bebevit brand.

The project is a private sector investment with a planned production capacity of nine million packs per year, with the option to expand output to cover domestic demand and reduce the need for imports.

The launch forms part of a wider government drive to support industrial development in the pharmaceutical, food and construction sectors. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani attended the event and highlighted the role of private sector partnerships, credit support for small and medium-sized industries, and state-backed guarantees under the federal budget framework.

According to government figures, the number of small and medium enterprises that have entered operation has risen from 2,000 in 2021 to around 39,000, while 5,470 projects have been established during the current government term, including 53 industrial projects exporting their products abroad.

The factory is intended to help meet domestic demand for infant formula, amid estimates that children under two years of age represent around 5-6 per cent of Iraq's population.

(Source: Prime Minister's Media Office)

By John Lee.

The Italian consultancy BTP Infrastrutture has reportedly completed between 70 and 75 percent of the final designs and studies for Iraq's Development Road Project, which will link Basra to the Turkish border via a railway and international highway.

Project Director Guido Bonini told the state-owned Iraqi News Agency (INA) that BTP has submitted comprehensive designs and studies to the Ministry of Transport and is collaborating with partners such as Oliver Wyman to ensure high technical standards. He added that countries including Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman have expressed interest in participating, with Saudi Arabia expected to join once studies are complete.

The plan includes a high-speed passenger rail line, with trains expected to run at up to 300 km/h, cutting travel time between Basra and Baghdad to about 90 minutes. The project will also feature a connected highway from Umm Qasr to northern Iraq for cargo transport.

The Development Road is expected to create between 100,000 and 150,000 jobs and stimulate national economic growth. The long-term plan, extending to 2050, envisions the establishment of industrial and economic cities along the route, including oil and petrochemical facilities in Basra and agricultural processing plants in Karbala and Najaf.

Bonini said the remaining 25 percent of design work will be completed within the next three months, after which the Ministry of Transport will launch a global tender platform for international companies to bid on the project's execution phase.

BTP Infrastrutture was de-merged from Progetti Europa & Global S.p.A. (PEG), changing its name from PEG Infrastrutture S.p.A. to BTP Infrastrutture in March 2022.

(Source: INA)

By John Lee.

KBR (United States) has been selected by ENKA Insaat (Turkey) to provide detailed engineering design services for the Associated Gas Upstream Project Phase 2 (AGUP2), part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) operated by TotalEnergies in partnership with Basra Oil Company (BOC) and QatarEnergy in Iraq's Basra region.

This latest award follows KBR's successful completion of the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the same development, reinforcing its long-standing collaboration with both TotalEnergies and ENKA, and its ongoing commitment to supporting Iraq's energy infrastructure growth.

Under the award, KBR will provide multi-discipline detailed engineering design from its global engineering centres, supporting ENKA's execution of the engineering, procurement, supply, construction, and commissioning (EPSCC) scope for the central processing facility.

The AGUP2 project, scheduled to start in 2028, aims to process oil and associated gas from the Ratawi [Artawi] oil field, raising production to 210,000 barrels per day of oil and 154 million standard cubic feet per day of gas, while contributing to Iraq's low-carbon energy transition and the elimination of routine flaring.

Jay Ibrahim, President of KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions, said:

"KBR has been a trusted service provider in Iraq for more than four decades. This project represents a strategic milestone for Iraq's energy future as it combines gas recovery, power generation, oil field redevelopment, and renewable energy investment. We are proud to continue supporting TotalEnergies and ENKA to drive sustainable growth and reliable energy for Iraq."

(Source: KBR)

By John Lee.

France's Vallourec has been awarded a second contract by TotalEnergies to supply casing, tubing, and associated accessories for the drilling of 48 wells under the Associated Gas Upstream Project 2 (AGUP2).

The project forms a key part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), operated by TotalEnergies in partnership with Basra Oil Company (BOC) and QatarEnergy.

The AGUP2 initiative aims to process oil and associated gas from the Ratawi [Artawi] oil field, increasing production capacity to 210,000 barrels of oil per day and 154 million standard cubic feet per day of gas. It also supports Iraq's goal of eliminating routine gas flaring and advancing a lower-carbon energy future.

The wider GGIP -- a flagship 4-in-1 energy development -- combines gas recovery from three southern oil fields to supply power plants, redevelopment of the Ratawi field, construction of a 1 GWac (1.25 GWp) solar farm, and a seawater treatment plant to support oil operations.

In the first phase, Vallourec delivered approximately 15,000 tonnes of casing and tubing for 30 wells. In this second phase, the company will supply over 30,000 tonnes of premium tubular products, including about 3,000 tonnes of Premium Line Pipe with anti-corrosion coating.

Group Chairman and CEO Philippe Guillemot (pictured) stated:

"We are proud to continue our collaboration with TotalEnergies on this flagship project in Iraq. Since the beginning, Vallourec has been fully committed to supporting TotalEnergies. This new phase confirms the strength of our long-standing partnership and our ability to deliver high-performance, reliable tubular solutions."

(Source: Vallourec)

By John Lee.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani has laid the foundation stone for the Baghdad International Hospital, to be developed by Apex Health, a subsidiary of Qatar's Estithmar Holding [Qatari Investment Holding Company].

Al-Sudani welcomed the Qatari delegation and praised the project as a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, recalling the visit of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who announced a package of investments worth between $5 billion and $7 billion (approx. €4.6-€6.4 billion) across multiple sectors.

He emphasised his government's commitment to creating a business-friendly environment by reducing bureaucracy, amending outdated investment laws, and implementing supportive regulations.

Key points from the Prime Minister's remarks included:

• Iraq has opened its doors to reputable international companies, including Qatari Investment Holding.
• The government has taken measures to support the private sector and attract investments exceeding $102 billion (approx. €93 billion).
• Despite regional instability, Iraq continues to pursue an investment-driven growth strategy.
• The Development Road project presents significant opportunities for global investors.
• The health sector remains a top priority, with progress seen through the implementation of the Health Insurance Law and partnerships with US and UK pharmaceutical companies.
• The government is supporting local drug manufacturers, upgrading hospitals, and introducing modern management models through joint operations with renowned medical institutions.

(Source: PMO)

By John Lee.

TotalEnergies, in partnership with Basra Oil Company (30%) and QatarEnergy (25%), has signed the final contracts of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) at the Ratawi [Artawi] field in Basra, under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

The agreements include:

• a joint operating contract between the Ministry of Oil, Basra Oil Company (BOC), TotalEnergies (45%, operator), and QatarEnergy;
• a seawater treatment facility with Hyundai (capacity 7.5 million barrels per day);
• a central oil and gas processing facility with Turkiye's Enka (210,000 bpd and 163 MMscfd of gas); and,
• a gas processing plant with China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corp (CPECC) (600 MMscfd in two phases).

The Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP), to be built near Umm Qasr, will substitute treated seawater for freshwater currently drawn from the Tigris, Euphrates, and aquifers, helping to reduce regional water stress and free up around 250,000 cubic metres of water daily for agriculture.

The Ratawi redevelopment, launched in 2023, will raise output to 120,000 bpd in 2026 (phase 1) and to 210,000 bpd in 2028 (phase 2), with no routine flaring. Associated gas will be processed through the 300 MMscfd Gas Midstream Project to supply the national grid, providing electricity to around 1.5 million households. The project also includes a 1,000 MW solar power component.

Prime Minister al-Sudani welcomed the agreements, describing them as evidence of Iraq's improving investment climate. Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani and Qatari Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi attended the signing, alongside executives from TotalEnergies, Enka, Hyundai, and CPECC.

TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné said that with all four GGIP components - oil, gas, water, and solar - now launched, the first phase of production is expected in early 2026, employing around 7,000 Iraqis during construction.

Full text of statement from TotalEnergies:

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, and His Excellency Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of QatarEnergy, met on Sunday, 14^th of September in Baghdad with His Excellency Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, and His Excellency Hayan Abulghani, Minister of Oil and Deputy Prime Minister, to announce the start of construction of the Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) and the full field development of the Ratawi oil field.

These are the two last major contracts of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), led by TotalEnergies (45%, operator) alongside its partners Basra Oil Company (30%), and QatarEnergy (25%).

With these signatures, all four parts (natural gas, solar, oil, water) of the GGIP are now in execution phase. The GGIP, a showcase project for TotalEnergies' multi-energy strategy, aims to sustainably develop Iraq's natural resources to improve the country's electricity supply while contributing to its energy independence and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

The seawater treatment plant, a key infrastructure to preserving the country's water resources

The CSSP will be built on the coast near the town of Um Qasr. It will process and transport 5 million barrels of seawater per day to the main oil fields in southern Iraq.

Treated seawater will be substituted for the freshwater currently taken from the Tigris, Euphrates, and aquifers to maintain pressure in the oil wells. The project will therefore help alleviate water stress in the region and is expected to free up to 250,000 cubic meters of freshwater per day for irrigation and local agriculture needs.

Ongoing redevelopment of the Ratawi field, one of Iraq's lowest-emission oil sites

The Ratawi redevelopment was launched in September 2023. Phase 1 aims to increase production to 120,000 bpd and is expected to come on stream by early 2026.

The launch of phase 2 (full field development) will enable to increase production to 210,000 bpd starting in 2028 with no routine flaring.

All 160 Mcf/d of associated gas produced every day will be fully processed thanks to the 300 Mcf/d Gas Midstream Project (GMP), whose construction began early 2025. The GMP, which will also treat previously flared gas from two other fields in southern Iraq, will deliver processed gas into the national grid where it will fuel power plants with a production capacity of approximately 1.5 GW, providing electricity to 1.5 million Iraqi households. An Early Production facility to process 50 Mcf/d of associated gas will start early 2026 together with the Ratawi phase 1 oil production.

"We are delighted today to award the two final contracts of the Gas Growth Integrated Project, in particular the seawater treatment plant which has been long awaited by the oil industry in Iraq. In less than 2 years since the GGIP effective date in August 2023, TotalEnergies and its partners have fully executed their commitment towards the people of Iraq and launched all projects included in the multienergy GGIP projet, the best showcase of TotalEnergies transition strategy. All these projects will bring a significant contribution to the Iraq economy and employ during the construction phase 7,000 Iraqi nationals.," declared Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies. "Furthermore, I am proud to confirm that the first phase of the associated gas, oil and solar projects will start-up as soon as early 2026."

About the Gas Growth Integrated Project in Iraq

In 2023, TotalEnergies launched the multi-energy Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) in Iraq. The GGIP is designed to enhance the development of Iraq's natural resources to improve the country's electricity supply. This 4-in-1 project comprises the recovery of gas that is currently flared at three oil fields in southern Iraq to supply electric power plants, the redevelopment of the Ratawi oil field, the construction of a 1 GWac (1.25GWp) solar farm and of a seawater treatment plant.

(Sources: TotalEnergies, Ministry of Oil, PMO)

By John Lee.

Aspetar, the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Qatar, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Iraq Football Association (IFA) to provide medical and scientific support to the Iraqi national football team over the next two years.

The agreement grants the Iraqi team access to Aspetar's advanced medical facilities and sports infrastructure, as well as priority use of its services. It also covers sports science cooperation, including performance assessments, training for IFA medical staff, and guidance aligned with international standards. Iraqi teams will additionally benefit from access to training facilities within Aspire Zone to support preparation for domestic and international competitions.

Adnan Dirjal, President of the Iraq Football Association, highlighted the agreement's role in boosting both the technical and medical capabilities of Iraqi teams, stressing the importance of Aspetar's expertise in safeguarding player health and improving performance.

Through this MoU, the IFA joins Aspetar's international network of sports partners, which includes Paris Saint-Germain and the Algeria Football Federation.

(Source: Aspetar)

By John Lee.

Iraq's Minister of Communications, Dr. Hiyam Al-Yasiri (pictured), has met with Ooredoo of Qatar to discuss joint projects aimed at strengthening Iraq's role as a regional and international data hub.

Talks focused on implementing bilateral agreements to route communications traffic via the FIG submarine cable landing station in Al-Faw, managed by Ooredoo, and through border crossings at Safwan (Kuwait) and Arar (Saudi Arabia), extending to Ibrahim Al-Khalil and Faysh Khabur (Turkey) and onwards to Europe.

The Minister and Ooredoo's technical delegation also discussed expanding transit capacity into Iraq and marketing it to local internet service providers (ISPs) through the infrastructure of the General Company for Communications and Informatics.

The move is expected to improve service quality, reduce prices, and leverage Iraq's strategic geographical position as a key link between Gulf states and global networks.

(Source: Ministry of Communications)