The Minister of State for Energy Affairs President and CEO of QatarEnergy, HE Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, along with the Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, went on to meet in Baghdad with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and announced the start of construction of the Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) as well as Phase 2 of the Artawi Oil Field Redevelopment project (Artawi Phase 2 Project) all of which amount to over $13bn worth Iraq project.
It is worth noting that both the projects happen to represent the final major components of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) of Iraq, which happens to be a multi-phase initiative that’s aimed at enhancing the energy infrastructure security of the country that’s at present being developed by the GGIP partners, which are QatarEnergy with a 25% share, TotalEnergies at 45% share and also being the operator, and Basra Oil Company with 30% of the share.
The signing of the deal took place at a special ceremony that was held under the patronage of Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and was attended by Minister Al-Kaabi as well as Hayyan Abdul Ghani Al-Sawad, who happens to be the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil, and also certain other senior Iraqi officials as well as executives from all three project partners.
In the same ceremony, QatarEnergy as well as its partners, TotalEnergies along with Basra Oil Company, inked a joint statement along with the Government of Iraq, which happened to be represented by Al-Sudani as well as the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, which was represented by Al-Sawad regarding the GGIP, so as to reaffirm the robust partnership between the parties as well as their joint commitment when it comes to the successful execution of numerous other projects that comprise of the GGIP. Commenting on this event, Minister Al-Kaabi remarked that this milestone happens to mark a major step in their shared journey along with Iraq when it comes to energy resilience as well as sustainability.
Apparently, the launch of the CSSP along with the Artawi Phase 2 Project goes on to put light on their deep commitment to the energy sector and economic growth of Iraq.
Minister Al-Kaabi further added that they are very proud to go ahead and collaborate with TotalEnergies as well as Basra Oil Company when it comes to this transformative initiative, and they do extend their sincere appreciation to the Iraqi leadership as well as authorities when it comes to their continued support along with the partnership so as to make this vision a reality.
Notably, the CSSP is going to process as well as transport 5 million barrels of seawater every day to the main oil fields across southern Iraq.
It will therefore in a very prominent way decrease the freshwater abstraction from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, thereby alleviating the regional water stress and at the same time also supporting agricultural sustainability. By way of freeing up almost 250,000 cubic meters of freshwater every day, the project would indeed contribute towards the long-term water security of Iraq. The plant, apparently, is going to be operated by the Basra Oil Company.
Interestingly, the Artawi Phase 2 Project is going to increase oil production from the Artawi field to 210,000 bpd beginning in 2028. When it gets completed, the project will go on to position Artawi as one of the lowest-emission oil production sites in Iraq. With over $13bn worth Iraq project, the GGIP happens to be designed so as to enhance the natural resources development of Iraq and to enhance the electricity supply of the country.
It happens to comprise numerous mega-projects when it comes to the recovery of gas that is at present flared along the three oil fields that are based in southern Iraq in order to supply electric power plants, help with the redevelopment of the Artawi oil field as well as the construction of a 1 GWac solar farm, and, along with it, the treatment of major quantities of seawater, which needs to be used for pressure maintenance throughout a number of oil fields.
