FM: We are proceeding with implementing the associated gas exploitation program

Baghdad - INA

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein confirmed today, Thursday, that the relevant authorities in Iraq are proceeding with implementing a program to exploit associated gas in cooperation with major international companies.

A statement by the ministry - received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) - stated that "Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein met with US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Jeffrey Bate, on the sidelines of the meetings of the twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( COP29 ) held in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku."

The statement added, "During the meeting, views were exchanged on the efforts made by the Iraqi government to fulfil its international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy production, and achieve self-sufficiency in electricity resources."

The statement indicated that "the minister reviewed the latest developments regarding the Iraqi government's efforts to reduce the burning of gas associated with the process of extracting crude oil," stressing that "the relevant authorities in Iraq are proceeding with implementing a program to exploit associated gas in cooperation with major international companies, in addition to completing the network connection with a number of neighboring countries to provide electrical energy when needed."

The statement continued, "The Minister praised the support provided by friendly countries, led by the United States of America, through the Iraqi-American Joint High Coordination Committee ( HCC )."

For his part, Jeffrey Bate, according to the statement, valued the active presence of the Iraqi delegation at the twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( COP29 ), expressing, "the US government's readiness to continue consultation and cooperation with Iraq within the work of the Iraqi-US Joint Higher Coordination Committee."