Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 16 /Trend/
Iraq's government will move to end a major contract with Exxon Mobil after the U.S. oil giant signed a deal with the regional administration in north of Iraq to explore fields there, which Baghdad on Wednesday called a violation of the law, Reuters reported.
Exxon's agreement in regional administration in north of Iraq and Baghdad's response have set up a power struggle between the Iraqi central government and multinational oil companies over the potential resources in the regional administration in north of Iraq .
Baghdad and the government of the regional administration in north of Iraq are in a long-running political dispute over oil and land rights, and the central government says all foreign oil deals signed with the regional administration in north of Iraq are illegal.
"Exxon has violated the ministry directions and instructions concerning the companies working in regional administration in north of Iraq," said Abdul-Mahdy al-Ameedi, director of the oil ministry's contracts and licensing directorate.
"It's a violation of the contract and the law. As a consequence the oil ministry will take steps to end the contract. But this operation will need arrangements," he said without giving further details.
It was unclear what steps the oil ministry may be able to immediately take against Exxon as Baghdad seeks to manage the challenge by the U.S. major to its national oil policies.
Exxon has a multi-billion dollar contract with Iraq's oil ministry to develop the 8.7 billion barrel West Qurna Phase One oilfield in the south -- one of dozens of large contracts Iraq hopes will help rebuild its war-battered crude industry.
A spokesman at the U.S. major could not immediately be reached for comment. Exxon has so far not made any statement on the regional administration in north of Iraq deal.
Ameedi said there had been no response from Exxon to the Iraqi government's communications with the company regarding the regional administration in north of Iraq deal.
"Exxon hasn't answered us yet," he said.
He said the government of the regional administration in north of Iraq had also been talking to U.S. oil company Chevron and Italian operator Eni.
"We know that there is communication between them. There are talks," he said.
Chevron has said it continues to be interested in pursuing opportunities in Iraq but that it will not discuss specifics.
Iraq has signed multi-billion deals with oil majors to develop oil infrastructure and help it achieve output capacity of as much as 12 million barrels per day. Its current output is 2.9 million bpd.
Political tensions between Baghdad and the regional administration in north of Iraq are one of the potential flashpoints for trouble as U.S. troops pack up to leave the country more than eight years after the invasion.
The central and regional governments remain at odds over the contents of a long-delayed national oil law, which investors see as an essential framework for investments in the country.