“Two qualified companies”… Iraqi Oil affirms the “transparency” of the LNG platform project.
The Iraqi Ministry of Oil issued a statement on Saturday detailing the floating platform project to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power the country’s power plants. The statement emphasized the transparency of all procedures related to the project, while noting that two companies have been technically and commercially qualified to implement it.
The statement said that the project stems from Iraq’s urgent need to secure electricity and operate power plants, and aims to diversify sources of liquefied gas imports to boost electricity production, under the direct direction of the Prime Minister.
The Ministry added that the Council of Ministers and the Ministerial Council for Energy issued decisions to determine the implementation mechanism, including Ministerial Council for Energy Decision No. (55) of 2025, which issued invitations to 6 companies to submit their technical and commercial offers, with the formation of specialized committees to study the offers and take appropriate decisions.
The statement explained that the Ministry of Oil, represented by the South Gas Company and the Oil Projects Company, has begun construction of a 40 km long, 42 knot diameter gas pipeline from Khor Al-Zubair to the Shatt Al-Arab Regulator. Work on the pipeline began on February 9, 2025, and was completed on schedule in June of this year, making it ready to receive gas.
The second pipeline, from Mahmoudiya to the Bismayah Power Plant, is 45 km long and 42 knots in diameter. The Oil Projects Company completed the pipeline in record time, despite challenges and high temperatures. It is also ready to receive imported gas.
Regarding the results of the tender study, the statement indicated that only two companies were technically and commercially qualified after both submitted acceptable bids. One company withdrew after submitting an unacceptable first bid, and a subsequent bid with a capacity of less than 500 megawatts (MW) was rejected by the Ministry of Electricity. Its proposal to use two separate platforms for storage and gasification was also rejected by the Iraqi Ports Company.
The ministry confirmed that a final decision will be made at the next meeting of the Diwani Order Committee, emphasizing that all procedures and negotiations were conducted in accordance with legal procedures and under the supervision of specialized ministerial committees, and that the ministry is not the sole entity responsible for decision-making. It also announced that a complaint would be filed against media outlets that distort public opinion regarding the government’s and the Ministry of Oil’s achievements.
Shafaq.com