Report: Russia stretches in the heart of Iraq’s oil, for political reasons
Report: Russia stretches in the heart of Iraq’s oil, for political reasons
5/28/2020 15:25
[Follow-up]
A report by the Oil Price website on energy affairs revealed that Russia is seeking to enhance its oil influence in southern Iraq, in line with the control it has in the Kurdistan region and with the level of influence China has built in the south of the country.
With the Rosneft company, headed by Igor Sechin, very close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, effectively controlling the oil and gas sector in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq through the deal concluded in November 2017, Russia is looking to capitalize on this presence, the report said. In a similar strong position in the south of the country.
He adds that these ambitions were suspended during the past months because Russia was trying to avoid the tension that occurred after the killing of the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and the anti-American sentiments that followed in southern Iraq.
The report indicates that Russia has returned to its intentions in southern Iraq after the Russian ambassador in Baghdad, Maxim Maximov, announced last week that Russian companies are ready to invest huge amounts of money in the energy field in Iraq.
“As in the Russian way, this simple statement contrasts with other intentions of Moscow,” which he likened to “the wasp’s nest,” and all aim to increase its presence significantly in southern Baghdad.
Reuters reported in April 2018 that the actions of “Rosneft” in the Kurdistan region illustrate how the Kremlin is taking advantage of Rosneft and its chief executive, as a tool of foreign policy around the world, from Erbil to Caracas and New Delhi.
The report stated that the Russian company was able to purchase oil export pipelines to Turkey from the Kurdistan government for $ 1.8 billion.
She added that the goal of the deal was not only commercial but also to enhance Russia’s political influence in Iraq and the Middle East, according to sources in Rosneft, the oil industry, and the Kurdish and Iraqi governments.
The sources indicated, according to Reuters, that controlling the pipelines gave Rosneft a pivotal role in the ongoing talks between the Kurdistan government and Baghdad aimed at resuming oil exports in full, which were disrupted by the referendum and Iraq’s control of the fields.
The Russian company “Lukoil” operates the huge West Qurna-2 field, which produces about 400 thousand barrels per day.
alliraqnews.com
