Baghdad: The Ministry of Oil announced on Tuesday that it has taken urgent measures to address stalled projects and expedite their completion.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, a statement from the Ministry of Oil said, “The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for Extraction Affairs, Naseer Aziz, chaired an expanded meeting to discuss the status of stalled investment projects being implemented by the Oil Projects Company for the benefit of oil companies, and to develop the necessary solutions and remedies to overcome the obstacles hindering their implementation and accelerate their completion.”

The statement added that “the meeting was attended by the Director General of the Basra Oil Company, the Acting Director General of the Studies, Planning, and Follow-up Department, and the Acting Director General of the Oil Projects Company.”

According to the statement, the Undersecretary emphasized “the importance of strict adherence to the established timelines and schedules for project implementation, given their direct importance in supporting the development and production plans of the oil sector, enhancing the efficiency of infrastructure, and achieving sustainable development goals.” He indicated that “the next phase requires increasing the pace of work and addressing the causes of delays seriously and swiftly.”

He added, “From today onward, no instance of unjustified delays or procrastination in project implementation will be tolerated,” emphasizing that “any entity causing disruption or delay in project completion will be held accountable for its negligence in accordance with the approved powers and procedures.”

He noted that “the Ministry is committed to bringing completed projects into service within their specified timeframes, ensuring optimal utilization of their outputs and contributing to the implementation of production and development plans for oil companies,” stressing “the necessity of integrated efforts among relevant parties and resolving any technical, administrative, and financial obstacles that may hinder implementation.”

He directed the relevant authorities to “take immediate measures to address and monitor stalled projects and establish clear mechanisms for follow-up and evaluation, thereby accelerating completion rates and reaching the operational stages.”