Iraq’s efforts to boost crude oil export capacity have been hit by the withdrawal of Dutch maritime services provider Boskalis from a $416.9mn contract to build the 48” 2mn b/d Sealine-3 (SL-3) offshore pipeline (MEES, 14 July 2023). MEES understands that Baghdad refused Boskalis’ request to form a JV with troubled UK services firm Petrofac, which had been barred from tendering for new projects in Iraq due to past corruption scandals (MEES, 3 May). Baghdad, however, was willing to allow Boskalis to engage Petrofac as a sub-contractor.
MEES is told that Iraq is re-tendering the project, with Italy’s Saipem being approached to take over from Boskalis. (CONTINUED - 291 WORDS)