BAGHDAD — Iraq has pledged to ban foreign firms from its energy
sector.
Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said Baghdad would replace foreign
contractors with Iraqi oil companies.
Al Maliki said his government would no longer allow foreign companies to develop Iraqi oil fields.
"I told the oil minister during a Cabinet meeting that we will never
sign any more contracts with foreign oil companies," Al Maliki told an
election rally on Feb. 19.
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"We will depend on our national companies in developing our oil fields."
In 2009, Baghdad auctioned off major oil fields to American and European
energy contractors.
Officials said they don't expect any new government to cancel the awards of 10 oil concessions granted to such companies as BP and
Royal Dutch Shell.
