In conjunction with American pressures.. a final warning to the Ukrainian company developing the Iraqi “Akkas” gas field
In conjunction with American pressures.. a final warning to the Ukrainian company developing the Iraqi “Akkas” gas field
2025-03-07 02:13
Shafaq News/ The Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee revealed, on Friday, that there is a delay in the work of the Ukrainian company operating the Akkas gas field, suggesting that the Iraqi government may issue a final warning to withdraw work from it .
The committee’s spokesman, Ali Shaddad, said in a statement to Shafaq News Agency, “The Akkas field is considered one of the most important gas fields in Iraq, due to its high efficiency and the purity of its gas, in addition to its large production capacity estimated at five million cubic meters.”
He explained that “the field had been transferred to a Turkish company after the fall of the previous regime, but it withdrew after ISIS entered and the contract with it was cancelled.”
Shaddad added, “The Ministry of Oil contracted with a Ukrainian company to operate the field in 2024, amid external pressures,” noting that “the company’s evaluation was good and that it provided a financial guarantee worth $50 million in the event of non-operation, and it also shares in operating the field with the North Oil and Basra companies.”
Shaddad pointed out that “the committee received information indicating that the company was delaying its work, as it has been issued two official warnings so far,” adding that “the company visited the field only twice, and claimed that on one of the visits it was prevented from reaching the field by unknown armed groups, which was denied by the Central Oil Company.”
He continued, “The Ministry of Oil will issue a final warning to the Ukrainian company, with the possibility of withdrawing the contract from it if the situation continues as it is,” noting that “the committee hosted the Minister of Oil on the basis of the company’s ownership, especially after the spread of information on social media sites linking it to the owner of a barbershop and questioning its financial capabilities .”
He also stated that “the Minister of Oil confirmed during his hosting by the committee that the company’s official documents are sound and without any doubt, and that it has the financial capabilities and experience necessary for similar projects,” calling on the parties promoting these allegations to provide official evidence .
Shaddad concluded his speech by pointing out that “Iraq suffers from the phenomenon of new and emergency companies, which obtain projects in unclear ways, which leads to delaying the implementation of vital projects in the country .”
In April 2023, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced the signing of a contract with the Ukrainian company “Ukrzym Resources” to develop the Akkas gas field at a rate of 400 cubic meters per day .
Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani stressed in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency at the time the importance of developing the Akkas gas field in Anbar Governorate, to add 400 million cubic feet (one million standard cubic feet per day) to local production, which aims to supply power generation stations with new quantities of natural gas .
While Iraq is suffering from importing gas from Iran, the Akkas field is still suffering from a lack of gas production to operate power plants throughout the country .
At a time when the American website “Real Clear Angry”, which specializes in energy affairs, considered that the day, which falls on March 7, represents an occasion to test the Donald Trump administration team on whether it will push Iraq to “liberate itself from the grip of Iran” by getting rid of Iranian energy resources, by stopping the American presidential exemptions that allow Baghdad to obtain gas and electricity exports from the Iranians .
shafaq.com
