25 February 2000 Iraq has finally started negotiations on its first modified buyback agreements, offering contracts with an average term of 12-15 years to a number of Asian companies – including Malaysia’s Petronas, which is discussing a deal for the 200,000 b/d Ratawi field. Iraq believes buyback contracts may prove easier to implement than production-sharing contracts (PSCs) once United Nations sanctions prohibiting investment are lifted. “We want something we can…