Iraq re-extends bidding deadline for two oil refineries

-Oil Ministry seeks investors to build refineries south of Baghdad each with capacity of 70 thousand barrels of oil per day

Iraq's Ministry of Oil on Wednesday re-extended the bidding deadlines for investors interested in building an oil refinery in Diwaniya, south of Baghdad, and another in Samawah, southeast of Baghdad.

Both refineries will have each have a capacity of 70,000 barrels of oil per day, according to a statement on the ministry's website.

Interested investors can now submit their bids up to Oct. 30.

On July 10, the ministry had extended the bidding deadline for investors interested in building yet another oil refinery in Kut, Wasit province southeast of Baghdad.

The refinery will have a capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil per day, and interested investors can submit their bids up to Oct. 4.

All projects will be developed on a build-own-operate (BOO) or build-operate-transfer (BOOT) model, and will be exempt from taxes.

The process is part of Iraq's goal to become self-sufficient in oil products.

The country is OPEC's second largest crude oil producer after Saudi Arabia.

By Hale Turkes

Anadolu Agency

energy@aa.com.tr