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Baghdad bids to take control



By Upstream staff 

Iraq's Oil Ministry said today foreign companies should sign oil contracts only with the central government until a new oil law is passed, adding that deals outside its jurisdiction would be considered illegal.

An oil industry source told Reuters the warning, made in an oil ministry statement after Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani met the Russian envoy to Baghdad, referred to contracts signed "recently" without the approval of the central government.

"The minister clarified that Iraq will not adhere to any contract signed outside the legal framework of the active laws, which confines negotiations and the signing of contracts in oil and gas fields to the oil ministry until the new hydrocarbon law is enforced," the statement said.

The oil law, which Washington sees as a key step toward reconciling Iraq's warring communities, is vital to attracting investment from foreign players to boost the Arab nation's oil output and rebuild its shattered economy.

"Foreign companies should only sign contracts through the central government and the oil ministry. The ministry warns companies who violate Iraqi law of the consequences of their actions and any contract that is signed outside the jurisdiction of the central Iraqi government is considered illegal," the statement added.

Iraq's Kurdistan regional government has signed several agreements with foreign companies, including a service contract last week with United Arab Emirate's Dana Gas. Norway's DNO is active in Kurdistan.

Iraq's central government and Kurdish officials are currently trying to resolve disputes over the landmark draft oil law that would determine control of the world's third-largest oil reserves.

Shahristani said last week the law would be ready for submission this week to parliament, but Kurdish energy officials have called the draft's annexes unconstitutional, raising the prospect of more disagreements and delays.


Thursday, 26 April, 2007, 13:00 GMT  | last updated: Thursday, 26 April, 2007, 13:04 GMT

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