In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency, Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar stressed that the ministry’s most important priorities and plans are to stop burning associated gas resulting from oil operations, and to divert it into useful energy, in addition to providing new investment opportunities in the oil, gas and clean energy sectors.

The statement explained that the leaders of the oil sector are following up on the field plans and programs to develop oil fields to increase and sustain production, and to invest associated gas, as well as projects related to increasing storage and export capacities, laying marine pipelines and water injection projects.

Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar appealed to all officials and workers in the oil companies to make maximum efforts to implement projects that achieve the goals during the short and medium-term phase, in addition to working to overcome all financial and health difficulties, stressing the importance of involving the national effort represented by Iraqi drilling companies, oil projects, and heavy engineering equipment in oil field development projects, the refinery sector, infrastructure, and more.

The Minister of Oil had recently received the First Vice President of Exxon Mobil Corporation, and during the meeting, His Excellency stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation relations with reputable international companies, including ExxonMobil.

In turn, Tom Schusler, Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil expressed his hope to increase the volume of bilateral cooperation in many areas, including the energy and infrastructure sector.