Iraq determined to achieve "zero gas flares" within the next 5 years

Baghdad - INA

The Ministry of Oil confirmed, today, Friday, that Iraq aims to reach "zero flared gas" within 5 years, while confirming the success of investing in flared gas in a number of southern fields.

The Assistant Director General of the Southern Gas Company for Technical Affairs, Majid Al-Shawaf, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The gas file is considered one of the very important files under the supervision of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Oil, and the cadres in the Iraqi Ministry of Oil," indicating that "the quantities of gas invested are constantly increasing, and the goal is to reach zero flared gas within the next five years.".

He explained, "Investment is being made through several projects, some of which are projects or factories currently existing in the southern region of Basra, where production capacities have been increased and developed, while future projects are divided into three or four projects under implementation, in the engineering design phase, or in the contracting phase.".

When asked about the increase in the percentage of associated gas investment, Al-Shawaf replied, saying: "The existing surface facilities were old facilities that were established in the mid-seventies of the last century, and development and modernization were carried out through projects and investments in the previous 10 and 5 years.".

"As a result, we have managed to increase production capacities and invest in quantities that were being burned in the oil fields in the southern region, namely North Rumaila, South Rumaila, West Qurna 1 and Zubair. This is due to the addition facilities and compression stations, as investing in gas is not an easy process. 

Money must be spent, compressors must be brought in and pressures must be raised. If the gas is acidic, it must be treated to be suitable for use in power stations".

The Deputy Director General of the South Gas Company for Technical Affairs continued, saying: "All of this was accomplished during the previous period, and therefore the South Gas Company now can invest or increase production capacities during this period."