Iraq inks deal with Swiss firm for $6B oil refinery in country’s south
by The Associated Press
Satarem to build and operate 150,000 barrel-per-day refinery in southern province of Maysan
BAGHDAD—Iraq’s prime minister says his country has signed a $6-billion contract with Swiss company Satarem to build and run an oil refinery in southern Iraq.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s office announced the deal on his official website in a statement dated Oct. 10.
The project calls for Satarem to construct and operate a 150,000 barrel-per-day refinery in the southern province of Maysan, which borders Iran.
Iraq sits atop the world’s fourth largest proven reserves of conventional crude, with about 143.1 billion barrels, and oil revenues make up 95 per cent of the country’s budget.
It lacks refining capacity to meet local demand for fuel.
