Despite going cap in hand to the IMF this week, Iraq has pledged to make 2016’s payments to IOCs on time, but its efforts to minimize payment levels are hindering plans to boost oil production.
Oil prices have risen 75% since Brent bottomed out at $27.88/B on 20 January. But even current prices of around $50/B for Brent (which equates to roughly $45/B for Iraq’s heavier crude), remain well short of what the country needs. Iraqi Industry Minister Muhammad Sahib al-Daraji told the CWC Iraq Petroleum conference in London on 24 May that “we cannot rely on less than $65/B” despite adding that Iraq has “an average production cost of $11/B” – putting it firmly in the low cost production bracket. (CONTINUED - 2031 WORDS)
