The Russian Ministry of Fuel and Energy does not think it expedient for the Russian companies to participate in the Washington contest for the distribution of contracts to restore Iraq, a source in the Russian Ministry of Fuel and Energy told RIA Novosti on Monday. The contest begins this week.
The first stage of the contest, a specialized conference, will take place on Wednesday, November 19.
"Until the old contracts which we have concluded with the Iraqis are not restored, there is no sense to take part in any new distribution," said the source.
The fate of the Russian oil contracts in Iraq, according to the ministry's source, will be discussed at the meeting of Russian Minister of Fuel and Energy Igor Yusufov and the Iraqi Minister of Oil Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum.
"A month ago, our minister sent a letter to Iraqi Minister of Oil Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum, asking for a meeting," said the source. "We received a very positive answer from him. The final date of the visit will be determined later by the Iraqi minister, but the meeting must take place at the beginning of December." "Big Russian companies such as LUKoil, Zarubezhneft, Stroitransgaz and dozens of smaller ones had contracts in Iraq," said the source. "Judging by the positive answers of our Iraqi colleagues to the Russian invitations for a dialogue and our increasing direct contacts with the Iraqis, the general sentiments are rather positive.
Subscribe to Pravda.Ru Telegram channel, Facebook, RSS!