Iraq to Boost West Qurna 1 Production by 50K bpd

A security man in front of the gate of the West Qurna 1 oil field operating authority. (Reuters)
A security man in front of the gate of the West Qurna 1 oil field operating authority. (Reuters)
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Iraq to Boost West Qurna 1 Production by 50K bpd

A security man in front of the gate of the West Qurna 1 oil field operating authority. (Reuters)
A security man in front of the gate of the West Qurna 1 oil field operating authority. (Reuters)

US energy giant ExxonMobil Corp has formally exited the West Qurna 1 oilfield in southern Iraq and handed over its operations to PetroChina as lead contractor, a deputy oil minister told Reuters on Monday.
Iraq and PetroChina plan to boost production by 50,000 to 600,000 bpd at the end of 2024, Basim Mohammed, deputy oil minister for upstream affairs, said.
Senior Iraqi oil officials met with executives from ExxonMobil, PetroChina, and Basra Oil Co on Monday at the West Qurna 1 field near Basra to mark Exxon's complete exit and the handover of its operations to PetroChina.
"We are meeting today to bid farewell to ExxonMobil, and at the same time we congratulate PetroChina for becoming the lead contractor," Mohammed said.
PetroChina holds the largest stake in the field after the departure of Exxon.
Last year, Iraq signed a sale agreement to acquire 22.7% of ExxonMobil's stake in West Qurna 1 by Iraq's state-run Basra Oil Co.(BOC), while Indonesia's state-owned Pertamina bought the remaining 10% of Exxon’s stake, increasing its share to 20%.



Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan Sign Agreement to Establish Joint Business Council

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan Sign Agreement to Establish Joint Business Council

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Federation of Saudi Chambers and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tajikistan signed an agreement on Monday to establish a Saudi-Tajik Business Council aimed at strengthening trade and investment relations between the two nations.

The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan Al-Huwaizi and Chairman of the Tajik Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jamshed Jumakhonzoda. The signing ceremony was attended by Tajikistan's First Deputy Prime Minister Hokim Kholiqzoda, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, and several officials and business leaders from both countries.

The business council will engage in systematic trade and investment promotion activities across various sectors identified in the economic cooperation agenda. It will serve as a platform for Saudi and Tajik business communities to network, showcase their activities, and foster commercial partnerships.

Additionally, the council will work to open new avenues for economic collaboration, facilitate continuous interaction between the private sectors of both countries, and exchange information on market opportunities. Plans include organizing exhibitions, conferences, and trade delegation visits to enhance mutual economic ties.

This agreement marks a significant step forward in expanding bilateral economic cooperation, aligning with both nations’ goals to strengthen partnerships and explore new business opportunities.