Iraq’s council of ministers has authorized the country’s recently revived Iraq National Oil Company (INOC) to “directly negotiate” with US firm Chevron on planned development of oil fields in Dhi Qar province.

The oil ministry made the announcement on 9 November, at the same time as it unveiled its intention to boost production capacity in the province up to 600,000 b/d within seven years (by end-2028). Current production comes from the 100,000 b/d Gharaf field operated by Petronas and two fields operated by state firm Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) – 90,000 b/d Nasiriya and 30,000 b/d Subba. (CONTINUED - 302 WORDS)