Natik Al-Bayati: Iraq’s Gas Exploration and Development Strategy – Istanbul, Oct. 19, 2011
Tag: gas fields
Power Sharing
A power-sharing deal brokered after eight months of protracted negotiations among the winning parties in Iraq’s March legislative elections seems to have led to a situation where the country is led by two executive bodies: the cabinet and the National Council for Strategic Policies (NCSP). In the new era the two state institutions would have executive powers over oil and gas issues, from endorsing oil pipelines deals with neighboring countries,…
Gas Fields Auction
After two delayed dates and three model contracts issued, one of which was withdrawn, Iraq has finally awarded its three gas fields of Akkas, Mansuriah and Siba to small oil companies pushing for a foot in Iraq’s energy sector. Having pre-qualified 13 companies, including France’s Total, Italy’s ENI and Norway’s Statoil, only five companies finally made it to Baghdad on Oct. 20th to participate in Iraq’s 3rd bid round in…
Gas Exploration, A Government Priority?
As Iraq’s third bid round for gas field development drags on, mired by successive delays, with no viable commercial structure in the draft model contract and confusion over the utilization of gas to be produced, Iraq’s next government is better off focusing on increasing Iraq’s gas reserves by launching an exploration drive to find new gas resources and develop them. Iraq has 65 defined exploration blocks on its maps, the…