17 July 2008 Iraq is gearing up to conduct a road show for its first bid round since the US-led invasion of 2003, announced at the end of June, and expects to launch a second round before the end of the year, Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani told International Oil Daily in an interview in Baghdad Wednesday. He added that technical support contracts (TSC) for five producing fields could still be…
Iraq to Establish Body to Speed up Awards
16 July 2008 The Iraqi government will soon submit a draft law to the legislative council on setting up a National Council for Reconstruction and Development tasked with speeding up contract awards for strategic projects, including oil field development contracts, a senior Iraqi official said Tuesday. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Monday that the cabinet had endorsed the new body on Jul. 13. He will preside over the council,…
Iraq to Invite Firms to Direct Talks
15 July 2008 The Iraqi cabinet has decided to establish a new body to speed up the award of contracts for strategic projects, including in the oil sector, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told International Oil Daily in an interview in Baghdad Monday. It will invite companies directly to compete for and negotiate one type of yet-to-be-determined model contract, even if the long-awaited hydrocarbon law has still to be adopted,…
Baghdad Rethinks Short-Term Service Deals
11 July 2008 The Iraqi oil ministry has asked Western majors to submit new proposals for technical support contracts (TSC) running for one year, rather than the planned two years — raising questions about the viability of the new deals, industry and Iraqi sources told International Oil Daily this week. Majors were expected to sign two-year TSCs at the end of last month, but Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani put the…