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Iraqi Kurdistan president's office denies
Exxon has dropped it's deal
19.3.2012
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March 19, 2012
ERBIL-Hewlêr,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — The Head of the Kurdistan
Presidential Office announced Saturday that
Exxon Mobil is still working in northern Iraq,
contradicting the Iraqi Oil Minister who claimed
on Friday the oil giant had
frozen its Kurdish projects.
Iraq's Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi said on
Friday that Baghdad had received a letter from
Exxon on March 5 "saying they are freezing their
contract with the Kurds".
However Fuad Hussein, head of the office of
Massoud Barzani, said: "Exxon has not mention
anything like this yet and Exxon has not frozen
its contract with Kurdistan region."
Exxon is still working in Kurdistan region and
Exxon senior executives never mentioned such
thing in our meetings, he added.
Kurdistan regional government signed an
agreement on October 18, 2011, with Exxon Mobil
to explore oil and gas in six regions.
The Iraqi government, who considers independent
contracts with Kurdistan to be illegal,www.ekurd.net
consequently excluded the company from
participating in the fourth licensing rounds.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussein al-Shahristani
also gave Exxon Mobil an ultimatum: drop their
projects in Kurdistan or lose their West Qurna-1
contract to develop 370,000 barrels per day in
Basra.
Exxon Mobil was the first major oil company to
enter Kurdistan Region when it signed an
agreement.
Exxon has not made any comment.
By Rebin hassan
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