Bidding Against All Odds

Iraq managed to award 6 out of 11 exploration block and gas field in its fifth bid round, despite the rushed organisation which kept big players such as Exxon Mobil, Total and Lukoil away despite showing earlier interest. Most of the bidders were first comers to Iraq, vying for a foothold in the country’s prolific oil and gas sector. (Full Results) Coming just two weeks ahead of national elections, it…

Bid Round 5 – A Hybrid Contract

Iraq’s fifth bid round launched last year has fallen victim to national electioneering. After missing the first deadline in the timeline announced end of November to conduct a roadshow for the tendered exploration blocks by early February, technocrats at Iraq’s oil ministry received sudden instructions to cut through the usual process and prepare to award exploration and development contracts by April 15. Just like the Iraq National Oil Co (INOC)…

Iraq Finally on World Gas Map

The Iraqi council of ministers has finally given its final stamp of approval today for the first gas deal of its kind in Iraq’s energy history based on the agreement initialized on July 12 between Royal Dutch Shell, Mitsubishi and South Gas Co, to capture and process flared gas in southern Iraq. This deal would put Iraq on the global gas map, something long due in view of the country’s…