Iraq plans to offer 10 gas exploration blocks to international companies in a new licensing round to be revealed during Iraqi Oil Minister’s visit to the US.

Iraq’s Oi Minister, Hayan Abdel-Ghani highlighted the country’s previous licensing rounds, noting that out of the 29 blocks and fields offered in the fifth and sixth rounds, 14 have been completed. “There are about 10 gas blocks out of the remaining that companies have not applied for, and we are in the process of offering them in a new licensing round,” he added.

Abdel-Ghani also has announced that Iraq will launch a new gas investment project by year end at the Al-Faihaa oil field in southern Iraq, with a capacity of 125 million standard cubic feet (mscf).

Notably, Iraq has commenced drilling an exploratory well in the Al-Anz block with a capacity of 1,000 cubic meters and has opened the Halfaya gas investment project with a capacity of 300 cubic meters.