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Iraq paid dues and producing oil companies amounted to 3.3 million barrels per day
4/5/15
(Independent) ... Iraqi Oil Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi declared that Baghdad had paid dues for international oil companies, and was able to solve the problem to allocate funds from the budget of up to about $ 12 billion, and issued treasury bonds of the same amount, pointing out that the dues companies for 2014 amounted to Nine billion dollars paid all in 2015, and that the amounts to be paid in each quarter of 2015 amounting to four billion dollars, to be paid the last quarter of the current year dues at the beginning of next year.
In an interview with reporters at the Iraqi Embassy in Paris in the presence of the Iraqi ambassador Fred Yassin, Abdel-Mahdi said in response to a question from the newspaper "life" on the message sent by the ministry to international oil companies, "We asked them to cut expenses that do not affect the production."
He pointed out that Iraq's oil production reached 3.3 million barrels per day, pointing out not to accurate information about the Kurdistan production, and said, "I'm not quite sure of its size, because we do not get accurate information, but we know that what comes from the Turkish port of Ceyhan up to about 400 thousand barrels per day, and if we have increased about 125 to 130 thousand barrels per day for domestic consumption in Kurdistan, Iraq's total production shall be between 3.7 and 3.8 million barrels per day. "
He announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the French Ministry of Industry, "Total" committed under which participate in the construction of a petrochemical plant in the south of the country.
Asked about the impact of falling oil prices in the production target of Iraq, said, "We are aiming to reach production to 12 million barrels per day, after seven years, but we have reduced this goal last year to 9 million barrels per day, with the extension of the period sometimes for some companies to 15 years to reach the goal ".
Abdul-Mahdi stressed that Iraq negotiates international companies, and there is a mutual ideas to improve the contracts. And partnership contracts for adoption in production with companies, he replied, "such contracts supported in Kurdistan (...), we do not need to participate in the production, but to give the elements to attract and encourage companies, and may not change the service contracts but Ndmnha some additional items as incentives for companies to work when the price of oil rises or when it drops, the contracts to be more flexible. "
He pointed out that the "war against Daash affect the oil situation, since March 2014 production ceased in Kirkuk, Baiji refinery and disrupted after June, but now came back Kirkuk oilfields to work 600 thousand barrels per day (...). Daash enjoyed several fields such as Guiarh and Ajil and Klaas, and attacked the baker field. I visited the region last month, found that the oil industry was very impressed, and the pipeline network between Kirkuk and Baghdad sometimes affected as a result of the status quo, and shortly before liberation field baker and Ajil (...), and with the restoration of calm gradually, can repair facilities and restoration of the refinery of Baiji Fully ".
And an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government in December (December) the past, and a complaint Kurds that they do not receive the agreed funds, said Abdul-Mahdi, "the first phase with the Kurdistan Regional Government, was to rebuild confidence that the central government gets from the region of 550 thousand barrels of oil in return to pay him $ 450 million. "
He added, "The second phase was agreed that the pay per month for the Kurdistan 17 percent of the budget (...). Things go in good shape with some obstacles, but the rate of what has been exported from Ceyhan totaled thousand barrels per day, in the beginning, the Kurdistan government gives about a third of this amount, and the rest exported, but finally we have two-thirds of this amount and issue a third. "
And the Iraqi stance of policy in the production, "OPEC," he said, "It is premature to announce our position, this is based on our analysis of the market." Asked about Iran's influence in the oil market return, he replied, "We would be happy if there was an agreement between Iran and the six countries on the nuclear issue (...). More Iranian oil in the market will affect the prices, but the satisfaction of the region give hope may affect the market balance. "
French President Francois Hollande met with Abdul-Mahdi, who chaired the meeting of the French Joint Commission - Iraq held its meeting in Paris. (End)
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