Iraqi Parliament Sets Ball Rolling for Autonomous South Region

12 October 2006 The Iraqi parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial law which sets out the procedures for the country’s 18 provinces to hold referendums to merge themselves into larger federal regions with a measure of self government. Although the powers of the autonomous regions would include signing their own oil deals with international oil companies, they would have to wait until 2008 when the new law goes into effect….

Iraq Awards Studies for Top Reservoirs

18 January 2005 Iraq’s oil ministry has awarded contracts for reservoir studies at its giant Kirkuk and Rumaila oil fields to UK major BP and UK-based Exploration Consultants Ltd. (ECL), a senior Iraqi official said Friday. Royal Dutch/Shell will also play a supporting role to the oil ministry on the Kirkuk study under a technical service agreement, the official added — which will include the Anglo-Dutch major financing that field’s…

Firms Line Up to Give Iraq Free Services

14 April 2005 The pending appointment of a new government in Iraq — the third since September 2003 — appears unlikely to open the doors to large investments by international oil companies, although the drawing up of a constitution later this year may take them one step closer. But that’s not deterring firms from getting a foot in the door, with some 29 companies signing memorandums of understanding (MOU) with…

Iraq Targets Pipelines, LNG for Natural Gas Development

24 February 2003 Having missed the boat on sales of natural gas by pipeline to Turkey, despite signing a memorandum of understanding in 1996, Iraqi officials are now drawing up plans to enter the broader international gas market. These include proposals to join a regional gas pipeline network, as well as construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in southern Iraq. Boosting Iraq’s natural gas reserves and export capabilities…