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…

Laith Al-Shaher

Laith Al-Shaher is the Director General of the legal department at the Iraqi oil ministry and one of the main negotiators of the South Gas Project with Royal/Dutch Shell and Mitsubishi. In a first for an oil ministry official, he spells out the main features of the deal in an interview with IOF editor Ruba Husari in Baghdad, as well as the nature of Basrah Gas Co, the first gas joint venture…

Iraqi Panel Hammers Away at Draft Oil Law

31 August 2006 An Iraqi government committee has been hammering away at contentious issues in a draft hydrocarbon law to regulate the oil and gas industry before it is submitted to the cabinet and parliament for approval. But it risks being blocked by a Sunni minority which also disputed the Iraqi constitution adopted by referendum last year. The committee which has been meeting over the past weeks is made up…