Latest news with #Khudair
Iraqi News
a day ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Schlumberger launches development of Iraq's Akkas gas field
Baghdad ( – Deputy Oil Minister Basim Khudair said on Wednesday that Schlumberger, an international oilfield services firm, has started operations at the Akkas gas field in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. Khudair's statements came as he confirmed that multinational oil companies are increasingly seeking to invest and engage in Iraqi oil reserves, the state-run news agency (INA) reported. In April, the Iraqi cabinet authorized the Midland Oil Company's quick development plan for the Akkas gas field in western Iraq. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said at that time that Schlumberger will carry out the initial phase of the field's development. The gas field is estimated to produce 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day within a year. The Akkas gas field, discovered in 1992, contains around 5.6 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves. The Oil Ministry's Undersecretary for Gas Affairs, Izzat Sabir, stated earlier that the project will supply a gas-operated power plant in the western Iraqi province with 100 million cubic feet of gas per day. According to Sabir, this initiative will enable Anbar's power plant to generate 1,640 megawatts of electricity. This is part of a broader plan that aims to increase the gas field's production to 400 million cubic feet per day over the next four to five years. The Akkas gas field, which has large reserves, was being developed by Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), a South Korean public natural gas firm, before Ukrzemresurs, a Ukrainian oil corporation, concluded a deal for the project.
Iraqi News
7 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Foreign oil companies increase investments in Iraq
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Oil confirmed on Wednesday that international oil corporations are increasingly looking to invest and operate in Iraqi oil fields. The Deputy Oil Minister for Extraction Affairs, Basim Khudair, said in a statement that foreign oil firms are increasingly interested in investing and operating in Iraq's oil reserves, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. Global multinational oilfield services company Schlumberger has begun operations at the Akkas gas field in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, according to Khudair. The Iraqi official illustrated that Iraqi Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul-Ghani and officials representing the US-based company Chevron recently met in the Austrian capital, Vienna, to explore investment in four exploration blocks in the Nasiriyah oil field, located approximately 200 kilometers northwest of Basra. Khudair mentioned that discussions also addressed the development proposal of the Balad oilfield located about 60 kilometers north of Baghdad. US-based ExxonMobil also showed interest in once again entering the Iraqi market and is actively negotiating possible investments in Iraqi oilfields, according to Khudair. The aforementioned steps are a positive sign of multinational corporations' trust in the investment climate provided by the Iraqi government in the oil and gas sectors.
Shafaq News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq: No radiation threat detected after strikes on Iran nuclear sites
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's nuclear oversight authority on Tuesday dismissed fears of radiation following the recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, reporting no trace of contamination across the region. Ahmed Khudair, spokesperson for the National Commission for Nuclear, Radiological, Chemical and Biological Control (I-NRC), told Shafaq News Agency that the Fordow facility—one of the reported targets—contains only partially enriched uranium. 'It does not pose a real danger if targeted,' he clarified, highlighting that the site's underground structure offers substantial protection against explosions and potential radioactive leaks. Khudair underscored that the commission launched immediate monitoring efforts at the onset of the crisis, contributing to scenario planning within Iraq's Central Operations Room for Radiation and Nuclear Emergencies. 'All measurements were accurate and fully aligned with global scientific standards,' he noted.
Shafaq News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq: No radiation threat from Iran nuclear site strikes
Shafaq News/ Iraq faces no radiation or environmental threat following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the country's Nuclear Regulatory Authority confirmed on Saturday. Ahmad Khudair, the Authority's spokesperson, told Shafaq News that the targeted facilities—such as those in Natanz and Isfahan—contained only minimal quantities of non-enriched uranium stored underground, limiting the risk of wide-scale contamination. He said no evidence suggests the Bushehr reactor in southern Iran was struck. 'As far as we know, Bushehr was not on Israel's strike list,' Khudair noted, though he warned that any future strike on the facility could affect the broader Gulf environment. Iraq has activated emergency response teams and technical monitoring systems but reported no radiation impact across its provinces. 'We continue to monitor developments closely,' Khudair added. He also condemned the Israeli strikes as violations of international legal frameworks, noting that Iran's nuclear facilities fall under global oversight. His comments came a day after IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warned that an attack on Bushehr could have 'catastrophic consequences,' releasing radioactive contamination across the region. The agency also confirmed structural damage to sites in Natanz and Isfahan, underscoring the potential for chemical or radiological risks. Grossi reiterated the IAEA's readiness to support inspections under any future political agreement.
Iraqi News
23-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq's Dhi Qar Oil Company signs HOA with KBR, Dragon Oil
Baghdad ( – In a significant move aimed at bolstering Iraq's oil production capabilities, the Dhi Qar Oil Company has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with a consortium of international energy firms. The coalition includes the United States' KBR, the UAE's Dragon Oil, and Iraq-based Al-Hurra International. The agreement, announced by Basem Mohammed Khudair, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for Extraction Affairs, marks a strategic step toward the development of the Abu Amood and Al-Subba oil fields, located in the Dhi Qar Governorate in southern Iraq. Khudair stated that this HOA will serve as the foundation for further negotiations with the participating companies. The Abu Amood and Al-Subba fields are considered pivotal to Iraq's plan to expand its southern oil output and attract foreign investment into its energy sector. With this move, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil signals its commitment to leveraging international expertise and investment to revitalize underdeveloped fields and boost national production. The collaboration with well-established international partners like KBR and Dragon Oil is also expected to bring in advanced technology and project management practices, contributing to more efficient and sustainable field development.
