Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi met with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods at a meeting in Houston, USA. The meeting discussed cooperation opportunities and investment prospects in Iraq's energy sector.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, al-Zaidi reiterated his government's commitment to increasing oil production and export capacity, as well as enhancing refinery capabilities.
Ending gas import dependency
Prime Minister al-Zaidi stated that the government plans to collect associated gas from oil fields and direct it to power plants, thereby completely eliminating Iraq's need for natural gas imports. "Our goal is to collect this gas and use it in power plants, so Iraq will no longer need imported gas," he said.
Al-Zaidi emphasized that Iraq has the world's second-largest energy reserves and said they are ready to provide all facilities to those wishing to invest in the oil, gas, and industrial sectors.
Energy City to be established in Basra
The Prime Minister also announced plans to establish an 'Energy City' in Basra as part of efforts to expand the country's industrial sector. The project is expected to strengthen Iraq's energy infrastructure and attract new investments to the region.
Al-Zaidi also said that the security situation in Iraq is stable and that media reports often do not reflect the real conditions in the country.
ExxonMobil wants to expand cooperation
ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, for his part, noted that Iraq's oil sector offers significant investment opportunities and expressed the company's desire to increase cooperation with the country. Woods said they are particularly interested in working together on projects aimed at reducing environmental pollution and using advanced technologies in Iraq's energy industry.
