Iraqi Oil Minister heading to Tehran

Jabbar Ali al-Luaibi in his visit to Tehran will hold talks with Iranian officials on Iran-Iraq cooperation in shared oil fields and transferring Kirkuk oil to Iran refineries for processing and returning back the products.

Kirkuk oil, according to the preliminary agreements, is to be transferred to Kermanshah and Tabriz refineries and the oil products would be sent back to Iraq to be distributed.

Transferring Iran gas to the southern Iraq via Shalamcheh and the two countries' international cooperation on energy are other topics Luaibi is going to pursue with Iranian authorities.

Educating Iraqi experts in Iran and academic cooperation in energy sector are among other issues the Iraqi side is interested in.

Managing-Director of the National Iranian Gas Company Hamid Reza Araqi told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that Iran's gas export to Iraq had reached 7-8 million square meters a day and the country had demanded increasing the figure.

Iran's gas export to Baghdad via Khanaqin pipeline began in late June this year. Iraq and Iran have signed two agreements to transfer gas to Baghdad and Basrah.

As Iraq is struggling with power shortage, Iran's gas is expected to supply al-Sadr power plant in eastern Baghdad and al-Mansoor in Diyala .

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