Basra: The Ministry of Oil has announced its commitment to enhancing the Basra Gas Company’s annual gas production, with current figures exceeding 1,000 cubic meters per day. This development includes a new initiative to export gas to more distant markets.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Director General of Basra Gas Company, Khaled Al-Batayneh, revealed that Iraq has maintained self-sufficiency in liquefied natural gas since 2019 and is actively boosting its production rates. Presently, the company exports between 3,000-4,000 tons to the global market, with ambitions to increase this figure to 8,000 tons by 2028-2029. Al-Batayneh further indicated that the current production rate surpasses 1,000 MMcf/day, with plans to elevate this to 1,300 MMcf/day by 2028.

Al-Batayneh also highlighted that gas production in Basra Governorate from fields such as Zubair, Rumaila, and West Qurna 1 exceeds 1,000 MMcf/day. These fields generate approximately 4,000 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to supply po
wer to four million homes in Basra and southern Iraq. He emphasized that meeting the gas needs across all areas of Iraq necessitates larger investments and increased quantities.

Addressing LNG export rates, Al-Batayneh explained that the company aims for an average of 3,000-4,000 tons, with this quantity growing annually. The majority of their sales are directed towards Asian countries. He also mentioned an ongoing project, the full gas cooling project, which will facilitate LNG exports to Japan and other more distant destinations beyond their current reach.