Through two projects, the Iraqi Oil Minister promises to achieve self-sufficiency in gasoline production by 2025.
Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul-Ghani al-Sawad said on Thursday that Iraq will achieve self-sufficiency in gasoline production by 2025 through the launch of two new projects in Basra and Kirkuk governorates.
The ministry said in a statement today that the minister, during the opinion council meeting, reviewed the ministry’s key achievements and topics during the current month, including the opening of a fat refinery at the Northern Refineries Company, which will meet 70% of the country’s needs. He directed the refinery companies to develop their fat refineries to achieve self-sufficiency.
Al-Sawad pointed out that the Ministry has achieved self-sufficiency in gas oil and kerosene, and the Ministry’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in gasoline production during the current year by completing the FCC projects in Basra, the naphtha improvement project in Kirkuk, and other projects.
The statement quoted the minister as saying that a contract had been signed with Schlumberger to raise production rates in the Akkas field to 100 million standard cubic feet per day. A preliminary agreement had also been signed with the American company Chevron to develop four exploration blocks in the Dhi Qar Oil Company, in addition to the Balad oil field and any other exploration field or block.
Al-Sawad noted the ministry’s intention to increase cooperation with international companies specializing in the oil and gas sector, including American companies.
On July 7, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that Iraq would stop importing gasoline this year, asserting that the country was on the verge of self-sufficiency in petroleum products, with a future export plan.
Iraq is one of the countries that partially relies on imports to meet its needs for refined gasoline, despite having several major refineries.
Shafaq.com