JGC signs Contract for Basra Refinery Upgrade

By John Lee.

Yesterday (Thursday), the South Refineries Company (SRC) and Iraq’s Ministry of Oil (MOO) signed the contract with Japan’s JGC Corporation to start construction of a new Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Complex at Basrah Refinery.

The project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)‘s ODA (Official Development Assistance) loan project.

The contract ceremony was successfully held at the Governmental Palace with the presence of H.E. Mr. Ihsan Abdul Jabbar Ismael, Minister of Oil, H.E. Dr. Eng. Khaled Battal Najim Abdullah Al-Jujifi, Minister of Planning, Mr. Husam Hussein Weli, Director General, SRC, Mr. Shu Nakagawa, Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in Iraq, Mr. Yutaka Yamazaki, President of JGC Corporation, and Mr. Kei Toyama, Chief Representative of JICA Iraq Office.  At the sideline of the ceremony, H.E. Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi hosted the meeting with the participants.

For this project named “Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project (I)(II), JICA has so far concluded three loan agreements for:

  1. engineering services loan in the amount of JPY 2,079 million [$20 million];
  2. first tranche loan in the amount of JPY 42,435 million [$403 million]; and,
  3. second tranche loan of JPY 110,000 million [$1.04 billion].

This project is the largest Japanese ODA loan project in Iraq. Under the assistance of JICA’s concessional loans (low interest rate at 0.20% and the repayment period of 40 years including 10-year grace period). It is expected to be completed in 2025.

According to a statement from JICA, the project to construct Iraq’s first-ever FCC Complex will unleash the potential of Iraq’s refining sector to produce the larger volume of the high-value outputs, promote the transfer of refining technologies from Japan and help save valuable foreign currencies to import huge amount of fuels.

It says the new plant will also reduce sulfur content in the oil products in accordance with the international environmental standards, adding:

The project is expected to pave the way for energizing private sector involvement in the downstream of Iraq’s energy industry and provide economic and employment opportunities for the people of Iraq, especially in Basrah.

“JICA looks forward to the collaborative efforts made by Iraqi government and the contractor to overcome every challenge to be encountered during project implementation, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  JICA reaffirms its commitment to making every possible means to support in delivering the project benefits and realizing its effectiveness.

(Source: JICA)

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Iraq announces Oil Export Data for Sept

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has announced initial oil exports for September of 78,388,619 barrels, giving an average for the month of 2.613 million barrels per day (bpd), slightly up from the 2.597 million bpd exported in August.

These exports from the oilfields in central and southern Iraq amounted to 75,000,000 barrels, while exports from Kirkuk amounted to 3,133,834 barrels. Exports to Jordan were 254,785 barrels.

Revenues for the month were $3.167 billion at an average price of $40.407 per barrel.

August’s export figures can be found here.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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Finalised Iraqi Oil Export Figures for August

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has announced finalised oil exports for August of 80,494,536 barrels, giving an average for the month of 2.597 million barrels per day (bpd), down from the 2.763 million bpd exported in July.

These exports from the oilfields in central and southern Iraq amounted to 77,505,136 barrels, while exports from Kirkuk amounted to 2,989,400 barrels.

Revenues for the month were $3.492 billion at an average price of $43.384 per barrel.

July’s export figures can be found here.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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NIC’s New Chair visits Wasit, Kerbala

By John Lee.

The new Chair of Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC) has been visiting investment opportunites throughout the country.

During a visit to Wasit Province, Suha Dawood Najar (pictured) said that Iraqi investors hae the financial and professional capacity to gear up with the Iraqi economy, especially if partnered and supported by the government.

In Kerbala [Karbala] she visited the Imam Hussein Hospital for Cancer, and other locations.

(Source: NIC)

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Genel Energy issues New $300m Bond

By John Lee.

Genel Energy has successfully completed the issuance of a new $300 million senior unsecured bond with maturity in October 2025.

The new bond will have a fixed coupon of 9.25% per annum. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and settlement is expected to occur on or about 14 October 2020.

In connection with the issue, the Company has agreed to repurchase $223 million of its existing $300 million senior unsecured bond issue with ISIN NO 001071088.2 and maturity date in December 2022 (‘GENEL01 PRO’).

Genel has the option to call the outstanding bond amount in December 2020 at a price equal to 105% of the nominal amount.

Pareto Securities acted as bookrunner and manager for the bond issue.

(Source: Genel Energy)

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Petrel Resources updates on Iraq Interests

By John Lee.

In its financial results for the six months ended 30th June 2020, Petrel Resources made the following statement on its interests in Iraq:

Petrel is active once more in Iraq after a hiatus since 2010 due to political and financial instability. We negotiated a large exploration block, Block 6, in the Western Desert in 2005. Nothing has happened there in the recent past. In discussions in early 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic, with Ministry officials we renewed our Block 6 interest and re-presented the technical slides done by the Company on the Merjan-Kefl-West Kifl oil discoveries which remain undeveloped. We did extensive work under a Technical Co-operation Agreement on possible ways to develop these discoveries.

“With appropriate terms and pipeline access, the Merjan oil-field seems poised for early development: it was discovered, as an oil reservoir, by Mobil in 1982, but work did not proceed, mainly for political reasons.  Petrel’s work on Merjan did not suggest that the area was gas-prone. The discovery well – Me-1- was located using 2D seismic on a Jurassic reef. No reef or oil was found in the Jurassic, but the well discovered oil in the Upper Cretaceous Hartha Formation.  Recent analysis of 3D data focusses on the Jurassic seismic feature, and does not discuss the nature of any hydrocarbons in the well or the area. The Hartha reservoir in the well tested oil and water, without a significant flow of gas.

“Given the scope to reduce emissions through gas development, we should also bear Iraq’s gas potential in mind:  a staggering 16 billion cm (0.6 tcf) of gas are flared yearly (including valuable liquids), which is about half Iraq’s gas output.  We proposed gas and condensate recovery on Subba & Luhais, at various times, from 2004 through 2010, but the necessary legal framework was not then in place.  With appropriate terms and infrastructure, gas economics are also attractive.

“As lowest cost oil producer Iraq is well poised to benefit from the development of the oil market. Their output can easily double in size.

(Source: Petrel Resources)

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Key Speakers to address Iraq Petroleum Virtual Event

Iraqi Government and Oil and Gas Industry Thought Leaders to Speak at Iraq Petroleum Virtual Event

  • Annual Conference set to navigate the future of the oil and gas industry in Iraq
  • Conference will include online conference sessions available live and on demand for all attendees
  • Delegates will gain insights into the latest policy and project announcements in the oil and gas sector in Iraq as well as the key recovery strategies post pandemic
  • Virtual Event will take place on 20 – 21 October through an interactive platform

CWC and Global Future Energy’s Iraq Petroleum Virtual Conference will include 6 content-rich panel sessions, enabling the oil and gas industry stakeholders to connect and engage with each other virtually to address current issues and facilitate practical solutions to advance the industry in these challenging times.

The Iraq Petroleum Virtual Conference constitutes of Ministerial Panel, Leader’s Session, a Spotlight Session on Kurdistan Iraq Economic Relations and executive panels delivered by thought industry experts. The conference will provide exclusive information, maps and updates on unrivalled opportunities and upcoming projects.

Iraq Petroleum attendees will gain all necessary tools to swiftly adapt their businesses to the post-lockdown environment. In light of the unprecedented circumstances and arising opportunities, the decision-makers and influencers from across the industry will get together to unlock new business opportunities on all levels of the energy industry at Iraq’s most-established and longest-running energy event, the Iraq Petroleum Conference, and discuss:

  • Iraq’s potential as a game changer in the global energy markets; how could Iraq reach its full potential?
  • How could Iraq build a new breed of NOC-backed by trading houses?
  • How could Iraq expand its crude oil market beyond the current buyers?
  • Iraq’s next chapter of upstream investment: How to reform Iraq’s upstream service contracts; what is the way forward?
  • Post pandemic lessons: How to accelerate the digital transformation of Iraq’s energy sector?
  • Iraq’s Electricity: Revolutionizing the Industry; What are Iraq’s priorities post pandemic?
  • Do International Oil Companies plan to build portfolios in Iraq through investments in various parts of the value chain?
  • What are Iraq’s projected gas plans in 2020-2030?

Over the past decade, the CWC Iraq Portfolio has hosted over 100+ Ministers and Senior Officials at various events. Now in its 14th year, Iraq Petroleum will again provide the only platform for oil and gas stakeholders in Iraq to convene. These high-calibre events are held with the support and participation of the new Federal Iraqi Government, the Federal Ministry of Oil, Federal Ministry of Electricity, the Iraqi Federal Parliament, REFAATO as well as considerable sponsors including Lukoil, Mitsubishi and ILF.

Speakers will include:

  1. HE Ihsan Abduljabbar Ismaael Al-Saade, Minister of Oil, Federal Government of Iraq
  2. HE Nafaa Abdulsada Ali Al-Hmidawi, Senior Deputy Minister, Ministry of Electricity, Federal Government of Iraq
  3. Matthew M. Zais, PhD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of International Affairs, US Department of Energy
  4. HE Matthew H. Tueller, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, United States Embassy, Iraq
  5. Husam Hussein Weli, Director General, South Refineries Ministry of Oil, Federal Government of Iraq
  6. Dr Khalid Al-Yaqoobi, Director General, President of Iraq Office, Iraq Presidency, Federal Government of Iraq
  7. Egor Zubarev, Managing Director, LUKOIL Mid-East Limited
  8. Zaid Elyaseri, Head of Country, BP Iraq

For further information, visit https://www.cwciraqpetroleum.com/

To access the full programme, please click here.

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