5 September 2008 Since launching its first postwar licensing round in late June, Iraq’s leadership has been struggling to reach a consensus on what commercial terms would best protect long-term national interests while offering quick and efficient solutions for an oil industry worn down by years of war, sanctions and scant resources. The main issue arising from the internal debate is who should operate oil fields — the national oil…
Category: 2008
A historical
Iraq: More Momentum
26 September 2008 Judging by the way preparations are going at the oil ministry in Baghdad, Iraq’s second postwar bid round promises to be even more controversial than the first. When launched in late June with six producing oil fields and two gas fields, the first offering was slammed by some as selling off the country’s crown jewels. According to plans now being drawn up, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani…
Iraq Finalizes Fields to Be Offered in Bid Round Next Week
26 December 2008 Iraq’s oil ministry decided Wednesday to launch its second postwar bid round for oil and gas field development with 14 oil fields and two gas fields spread over Iraq’s regions, ministry sources said Wednesday. The official announcement will be made by Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani in Baghdad on Dec. 31. Opinions in the ministry are divided over whether Iraq should launch a new bidding round before…
CNPC Lands Service Contract for Iraq’s Al-Ahdab Oil Field
12 November 2008 State China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) is set to start work immediately on its 20-year service contract to develop Al-Ahdab oil field in central Iraq following a formal signing Monday in Baghdad, making it the first company to break ground in Iraq’s oil sector since the 2003 US-led war there. The deal was signed by CNPC head Jiang Jiemin and the director general of State Oil Marketing…