Iraq is pushing ahead with plans to double production capacity at the Nasiriya oil field to 200,000 b/d. Cabinet approved the plan in January, and the oil ministry announced that the work would be funded through a deal with Lukoil’s trading arm, Litasco (MEES, 29 January).

However, the precise mechanism of the oil-for-financing agreement has yet to be finalized, and terms are still being discussed internally. (CONTINUED - 145 WORDS)