A little-known subsidiary of a politically-connected Iraqi conglomerate is rumored to have been given a contract to build a 300mn cfd gas processing project at Basra’s 50,000 b/d-capacity Nahr Bin Umar oil field. Halfaya Gas Company (which, confusingly, carries the same name as the CNPC-operated 300,000 b/d capacity field in nearby Maysan province) is owned by the Raban Al-Safina Group and has been in talks with state-firm South Gas Company (SGC) since at least April (MEES, 28 April) after being recommended for the project by Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani’s office.
Iraqi media reported this week that Halfaya Gas was awarded the project on 29 August, and this was subsequently confirmed to MEES by an oil ministry source. Despite the lack of an official announcement, Halfaya Gas’ Lead Consultant on the project, Munir Buaziz, told local media that his firm plans to reach 300mn cfd gas processing capacity through two 150mn cfd phases. (CONTINUED - 301 WORDS)