Iraq to Set Up Second Regional Oil Firm

18 July 2008 Iraq plans to push ahead with development of oil fields in the Nassiriyah area of southern Iraq in the next few years in order to achieve the 100,000 barrels per day of production set as the benchmark for establishing a regional oil company, Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani says. The company would be similar to the one recently announced for Missan, also in the south. “We are speeding…

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…

Iraq Names New Oil Company Chief

27 May 2008 Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has named the director-general of South Oil Co. (SOC), Jabbar al-Luaibi, as a special adviser. Al-Luaibi’s deputy at SOC, Kifah Numan, will take over as the new director-general in the coming days, an Iraqi oil source in Baghdad told International Oil Daily Friday. It is not clear why al-Shahristani moved al-Luaibi, but analysts said it could be because of a power struggle…

Iraq Nears Support Deals With Oil Majors

15 April 2008 Iraq’s oil ministry expects to sign two deals with two oil majors by the end of the month under the technical support contracts framework approved recently by the Iraqi cabinet, with two other deals expected to follow shortly afterward, Iraqi oil sources told International Oil Daily Monday. The ministry has also named 35 international oil companies it said have prequalified to bid in the upcoming licensing round…