Oil ministry sets date for start working in Mansouriya gas field

Baghdad-INA

Today, Sunday, 

the Ministry of Oil has set Sunday the date for the start of the Mansouriya gas field in Diyala Governorate, while indicating that its rehabilitation will be carried out by major Chinese companies.

 The ministry's spokesman, Assem Jihad, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The direct development of the Mansouriya gas field, which was granted to the Chinese company Sinopec in Diyala Governorate, will be after the approval of the next cabinet."

 He added, "After the approval, the final signing will take place, and then the company will begin the work of developing the field for pipelines and related projects."
 
Earlier, Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail signed a contract to develop the Mansouriya gas field in Diyala with a capacity of 300 cubic meters with the Chinese company Sinopec.
 
The ministry said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the Minister of Oil stressed during the signing ceremony the importance of developing the Mansouriya gas field in Diyala Governorate, as it represents a qualitative addition to the energy sector in Iraq."
 
He said, "This contract represents an addition to the investment of free gas from the Mansouriya field, which is the second largest gas field in Iraq," referring to "authorizing the Central Oil Company to enter as a partner with the Chinese company Sinopec at a rate of (51%)."
 
The Minister of Oil expressed his "hope that the next government will proceed with the final contract procedures in order for the Chinese company to start development work for the field, and Sinopec is one of the major companies in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries."
 
For his part, the economic official at the Chinese embassy praised the distinguished relations between the two countries and their desire to expand horizons of bilateral cooperation, especially in the oil and energy sector.
 
The Director General of the Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Department, Ali Maarij, praised the contracts concluded by the ministry in light of security and health challenges, expressing his hope for the cooperation of the legislative and regulatory authorities, and their support for the contracts concluded by the 
ministry.
 
In turn, the Director General of the Central Oil Company, Qaddouri Abd Salim, confirmed that "his company will be a partner of the Chinese company, and that the contract includes training workers to keep pace with development and modern technology in this field."
 
Abd Salim added, "The field's area is (150) km2, and the gas reserve is estimated at (4.5) trillion standard cubic feet, and it is the second largest gas field after the Akkas field in Anbar Governorate.

 He added, "In 2021, the Ministry of Oil re-introduced the Mansouriya gas field in the sixth licensing round organized by the Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Department, and won a contract to develop it by the Chinese company (SINOPEC)," noting that "the contract stipulates that the Central Oil Company will be a government partner with a percentage of  (51%), while the share of the Chinese company (SINOPEC) is (49%).

 He stressed, "The expected production capacity of the field is (300) million standard cubic feet, and that the most important objectives of the Mansourya gas field development contract is to produce gas with a capacity of 300 cubic feet / day, to supply electric power plants and various industrial projects with their need of gas, in addition to providing gas.  Job opportunities for the people of Diyala, upgrading the economic reality of the province, and consolidating the plans of the National Oil Company to invest in gas.