Iraq signs contracts with Qatar, France, and China for oil and clean energy projects

BAGHDAD – Iraq signed a series of contracts on Sunday with Qatar, France, and China to develop oil, gas, and clean energy projects as part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project at the Artawi field in Basra governorate, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who sponsored the signing ceremonies, said the agreements reflect “an improvement in Iraq’s investment environment” and show that “the Iraqi market is open to serious and reputable companies to participate in services, development, the economy, and infrastructure.”

The contracts include a joint operating agreement between the Ministry of Oil, Basra Oil Company, QatarEnergy, and TotalEnergies, alongside agreements with Hyundai, ENKA, and CPECC.

The projects cover a seawater treatment system for southern oil fields, construction of a central oil and gas processing facility with gas flaring reduction, and a gas processing plant designed to capture associated gas, with a total capacity of 600 million standard cubic feet per day.

Full stetement from Al-Sudani’s office:

On Sunday, Prime Minister al-Sudani sponsored the signing of the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between the Ministry of Oil, France’s TotalEnergies, Basra Oil Company, and QatarEnergy, in the presence of Qatar’s Minister of Energy Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné, ENKA Turkey Chairman Mehmet Tara, CPECC China Vice President Liu Kai, and Hyundai Korea Chief Operating Officer Ryu Seung Ha. Also attending were the Deputy Prime Minister for Energy and Minister of Oil, the Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor, the Deputy Minister of Oil for Extraction, and a number of directors general from the Ministry of Oil.

The Prime Minister first received Qatar’s Minister of Energy and the CEO of TotalEnergies with their delegations, accompanied by Iraq’s Minister of Oil, the Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor, and the Deputy Minister of Oil for Extraction.

He welcomed the signing of the projects, stressing that increased Qatari and other foreign investment in Iraq reflects the improvement of the investment climate. He said Iraq’s market is open to serious and reputable companies to participate in services, development, the economy, and infrastructure.

The Qatari minister conveyed the greetings of the Emir of Qatar to the Prime Minister, expressing his country’s interest in expanding investment and development partnerships with Iraq. The CEO of TotalEnergies also confirmed the company’s desire to expand its work in Iraq, citing achievements in economic development and security.

The signed contracts include:

The joint operating agreement between the Ministry of Oil, represented by Basra Oil Company, QatarEnergy, and TotalEnergies as the lead operator of the Artawi field to implement the GGIP.
The contract for the Common Seawater Supply Project (STF) between TotalEnergies and Hyundai Korea, with a design capacity of 7.5 million barrels per day to treat seawater for injection in southern oil fields to maintain reservoir pressure.
The contract for the central oil and gas processing facility between TotalEnergies and ENKA Turkey to produce 210,000 barrels of oil per day, 163 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, and 240,000 barrels of injection water per day, along with technology to eliminate gas flaring.
The contract for the gas processing plant between TotalEnergies and CPECC China to invest associated gas from the Artawi field and other fields, with a total capacity of 600 million standard cubic feet per day, in two phases of 300 million each.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Prime Minister al-Sudani urged all parties to accelerate implementation, particularly in producing gas and solar power to supply the national grid with 1,000 megawatts of clean electricity in stages starting early next year.

Media Office of the Prime Minister

September 14, 2025