Today, Monday, Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani announced that production had increased to more than 4 million and 700 thousand barrels per day during the past ten years, and while he indicated the start of the steps to establish a green hydrogen project, he confirmed the preparation of a draft renewable energy law and sending it to the House of Representatives.
Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani said in his speech during the launch of the activities of the ninth Iraq International Energy Exhibition and Conference on the grounds of the Baghdad International Fair with the participation of 180 local companies, followed by Al-Rasheed: “This government, despite its short life, has achieved many achievements represented in investing in oil and gas, starting from Activating the fifth licensing rounds within the petroleum licensing rounds, which were suspended throughout the last period before the formation of this government,” indicating that “the government, in return, worked on the priority of signing and activating these contracts because of their importance in investing in gas and using it in generating electrical energy by developing a plan to stop… Burning gas in various oil fields, in addition to concluding many contracts and activating agreements in this field, with a focus on using clean and renewable energy and following the best practices in force in the oil industry and the world.”
He added, “The government focused on developing the electrical system to achieve self-sufficiency by allocating the necessary budget to implement many projects in this regard, starting with approving the implementation of combined cycles, making the most of gas and liquid fuel energy, and increasing the efficiency of stations, to developing distribution organizations and addressing their weaknesses, all the way to Covering all system requirements and searching for renewable sources to activate electrical energy in line with the global trend of using alternative energy and reducing thermal emissions,” pointing out that “the Ministry of Oil has doubled production to more than 4 million and 700 thousand barrels per day.”
He pointed out that “reliance on transitional fuels as one of the pillars of transformation has been present for years in our national and ministerial vision for the gas industry, as we recently launched projects complementary to the fifth round and the sixth round projects, most of which are gas fields.”
He continued, “This year, we are preparing for other projects, including the Basra project, the Halfaya project, 300 million standard cubic feet, and the Nasiriyah project, 200 million standard cubic feet of gas, as the ministry is currently making efforts to launch the integrated gas project, which is approximately 600 million standard cubic feet of gas.” With the French company Total Energy, which is the Nahr Ben Omar gas project with a capacity of 150 million standard cubic feet, which can be increased to 300 million standard cubic feet, in addition to other projects in Mansouriya and Akkas with a capacity of 300-400 million standard cubic feet of gas.
At the refinery level, Abdul Ghani confirmed that “the actual operation of the Karbala refinery was completed months ago, with its designed capacity of 140,000 barrels per day,” explaining that “this is a promising project in the oil industry and in the economic and environmental fields as well, which plays an important role in reducing the country’s need for derivatives.” Imported and with high specifications, the installation and operation of the northern refineries in Baiji with a capacity of 140,000 barrels per day were also completed through the own efforts of the northern refineries company.”
He pointed out that “memorandums of understanding were signed with specialized international companies, as the Ministry of Oil played a pivotal role in this file, as all projects under contract amount to more than 8,000 megawatts, some of which are in oil sites and for the benefit of oil fields.”
He explained, “The Ministry has set its sights on the global energy transition and is forming the executive body for carbon field projects and energy efficiency projects, as we have already begun the first tender to implement carbon conservation projects financed by carbon bonds for the gas burning project in the eastern field in Baghdad with a capacity of 12 million standard cubic feet.” .
He stated that “a draft renewable energy law was prepared to establish an administrative structure for this vital file and issue the necessary legislation to speed up the work. It was presented to the Ministerial Council for Energy and sent to the House of Representatives for approval,” noting that “the Ministry of Oil began in parallel steps to establish a green hydrogen project for the benefit of the South Refineries Company.” With a capacity of 800 tons annually, with a solar energy station with a capacity of 130 megawatts.”
He concluded by saying: “We are on the cusp of an important stage in the Iraqi energy file. We need to establish an integrated strategy and reduce emissions so that the transformation is a source of revitalization of the Iraqi economy,” stressing that “this strategy takes into account all parties, including fuel, electricity, green transportation, emissions, and hydrogen, and charts the paths and mechanisms of this transformation.” Government and investment financing according to the latest and best paths.”
