Iraq awards oil drilling deals worth $348mlnSeptember 4, 2013 - 14:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iraq has awarded oil drilling deals worth a combined $348 million to two Chinese firms and Swiss-based oilfield services company Weatherford, The Associated Press reports. The deals approved by Iraq's Cabinet cover work in oil fields in the southern Maysan province that are being developed by China's state-owned CNOOC. The statement issued late Tuesday, Sept 3, says Weatherford won two drilling contracts, one for nearly $95 million and another for $82.4 million. Another contract worth $96.7 million went to China's Bohai, while CNOOC division COSL snagged another for $73.8 million. Iraq also extended for another year a deal to supply neighboring Jordan with oil under existing terms, but did not give more details. Iraq last year boosted exports to the kingdom, which must import most of its fuel needs. Iraq's oil exports rose to an average of 2.579 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, due to increased shipments from southern oil fields which have helped it move closer to a year-end target. Exports were higher than in July when Iraq exported 2.324 million bpd on average. OPEC's second-largest producer wants to export 2.9 million bpd per day by the end of the year. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Russia accuses West of preparing invasion of CSTO countries NATO is preparing an invasion of the CSTO countries, the number of provocations in the air is growing, Sergei Shoigu has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. |