Iran: Energy co-operation with Iraq

Petroleum minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh travelled to Baghdad for talks on energy co-operation with his Iraqi counterpart Jabar Al-Luaibi on 20 February, a month after the last Iranian energy delegation visited. Talks centred on a series of initiatives including gas exports from Iran to Iraq, and co-operation on the Parviz/South Naft Khaneh and Khorramshahr/Sindbad oil fields, shared by the two countries. An agreement was signed in 2013 for Iran to provide gas to three power plants in Baghdad and Diyala, starting with 4 mcm/d and rising to 35 mcm/d. However, the arrangement has yet to move ahead – the sticking point appears to be agreeing to financial terms.