Prime Minister Muhammad Al-Sudani affirmed: We aspire to contract with international companies to implement projects in all sectors, such as the gas sector, petrochemicals, and refineries, inside or outside Iraq.
He said in a speech during the inauguration of the Karbala refinery / according to a statement from his office /: One of the most important priorities of our government is to complete lagging projects, and today we are facing the completion of a lagging project since 2014.
Al-Sudani added: Thanks to the tireless work of the Ministry of Oil, its minister and cadres, down to the simplest worker, and the support of the brothers in Parliament and the governor, all efforts were combined to reach this stage and start production.
He explained: Today, the Karbala refinery has become a fact and a reality, at a time when it was subjected to a fierce attack of skepticism and falsification in all aspects of work, from contracting through implementation, and ending with this day.
Al-Sudani continued: Among the government’s priorities are economic reforms, which have been repeated over the years. We, as a government, set it as a real goal to address the economic situation, which is marred by many structural imbalances.
He explained: We classify an oil country that produces more than 4 and a half million barrels per day, but we are an importer of oil derivatives and products that cost us billions of dollars, and were supposed to be directed to other sectors such as health, housing and education.
He continued: A session of the Council of Ministers, ministerial councils, or bilateral meetings was not devoid of pushing towards achieving the goal of investing oil wealth, and we took decisions in files that have been stalled for years, including the fifth round of gas investment, and other projects that will see the light successively, and we will not hesitate to achieve this goal. Iraq must invest its wealth in an optimal investment that covers its needs, and be an influential and active country in the gas, oil and petrochemical market.
He said: This project is the largest in the field of refining oil derivatives that Iraq has witnessed in four decades. The volume of inputs, production capacity, quality, and technology used are all exceptional records that express a confident aspiration for the future. The refinery or integrated city has been accomplished in accordance with international standards and specifications, which will add value to this achievement.
Al-Sudani mentioned: Within a year of operating the refinery, the units of this project will be a factory for trained Iraqi personnel who are proficient in their work. It will be managed by 100 percent Iraqi hands, and we will address the issue of the working staff that accompanied the establishment of this project, so that they are the staff that contribute to the operation of this important project. We want the Iraqi engineers and technicians to accumulate experience in order to enable them to create greater opportunities in the near future for themselves and for the generations that will be trained at their hands.
He said: This project will enhance Iraq’s independence in the field of energy, by relying on our wealth, and the refinery is an important step to create indirect and unforeseen job opportunities, as its importance is not limited to providing derivatives and funds that used to go for import only, but it will add value in unforeseen projects. We aspire to contract with international companies to implement projects in all sectors, such as the gas sector, petrochemicals and refineries in Iraq or outside Iraq.
Al-Sudani expressed confidence in the Ministry of Oil, which has a high level of thinking, planning and implementation, and we appreciate the efforts of everyone who contributed to this project, from previous governments and workers on this site.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency