By Nicholas Earl
Iraq and Total Energies expect to kick-start a long-delayed £21.5bn project within the next two weeks, Iraq’s oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said on Wednesday.
Abdel-Ghani said at a conference in Baghdad he expected five side agreements related to the deal to be signed in the next two weeks, paving the way for implementation to commence.
The deal was signed in 2021 for Total to build four oil, gas and renewables projects with an initial investment of £8.4bn in southern Iraq over 25 years, but it was delayed amid disputes between Iraqi politicians over terms.
Iraq said last month it had agreed to a smaller 30 per cent stake in the project, reviving the deal that Baghdad hopes could lure foreign investment back into a country enjoying relative stability after years of conflict and tensions.
Qatar Energy will also have a share in the project.
“We confirm that discussions are advancing,” a Total spokesperson said.
Chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said last week the two sides had reached an agreement on Iraq’s stake in the project.
“I think (it) is a good setup with our finalising of all the paperwork,” Pouyanne said on Total’s first-quarter results call last week.
“The government of Iraq confirmed the whole contract, no modification at all … so that was for me more than a good news,” Pouyanne said.
Reuters – Timour Azhari, America Hernandez, and Amina Ismail
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