19 Apr 2012 18:40

ExxonMobil removed from final list of bidders at fourth Iraqi licensing round

MOSCOW. April 19 (Interfax) - ExxonMobil is not on the final list of bidders at the next tender for rights to oil and gas fields in Iraq.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry has published a list of companies that have passed pre-qualifying, and ExxonMobil is not on the list, although it used to be.

Local press reports say the company's contracts in Kurdistan are the reason for this. Some time ago it emerged that ExxonMobil might pull out of the West Qurna-1 project in Iraq due to its projects in Kurdistan.

The final list includes 47 companies, among them Russia's Bashneft , TNK-BP , Rosneft , Gazprom and Lukoil .

Iraq is offering 12 exploration properties, seven of them potential gas fields and five of them oil, in its fourth licensing round.