Iraq assesses TotalEnergies’ progress on Basra projects

Iraq is advancing key components of its landmark $27bn energy accord with TotalEnergies, with significant infrastructure milestones reached at the Artawi oilfield hub. Basim Khudair, Deputy Minister of Oil for Upstream Affairs, recently inspected the site to review the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP). The strategic initiative is being undertaken by the French supermajor in partnership with QatarEnergy and the state-owned Basra Oil Co. (BOC).

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, restoration work at the first Central Processing Facility (CPF1) has surpassed 80% completion. This upgrade is projected to double the facility’s output capacity from 60,000 to 120,000 barrels per day (bpd). Concurrently, the Artawi-PS1 export pipeline is reported to be 95% complete.

The multi-energy project is central to Baghdad’s efforts to reduce gas flaring and diversify its power mix. Khudair reviewed the gas recovery unit, which has a design capacity of 50mn standard cubic feet per day and is scheduled for delivery in May 2026. Progress was also noted on the associated 1-gigawatt solar facility; the ministry confirmed that the first 250-megawatt phase is expected to connect to the national grid by March.

A critical pillar of the integrated scheme is the Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP), designed to sustain reservoir pressure across Iraq’s southern giants without depleting the country’s stressed freshwater resources. In September, BOC finalised a contract with China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (CPPE) to construct a 950km pipeline network to distribute treated seawater to fields including Rumaila, Zubair, and West Qurna.

CPPE’s parent company, China Petroleum Engineering Co, confirmed that the $2.5bn contract spans a 54-month implementation period. The broader CSSP includes a seawater treatment plant with an initial capacity of 5mn bpd – expandable to roughly 8mn bpd – which will be constructed by South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering and Construction. Austria’s ILF Consulting Engineers is overseeing the pipeline scheme.

The project ecosystem involves a diverse slate of international contractors. China’s BGP was previously awarded a seismic survey contract to support the Artawi redevelopment, while US engineering firm KBR has completed front-end engineering and design (FEED) work. This technical foundation aims to eventually expand gas production to 600mn cubic feet per day, underpinning Iraq’s drive for energy independence.