Saudi energy minister signs 18 MoUs with Iraq

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Engineer Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih and his Iraqi Oil Minister Engineer Jabbar Al-Alluaibi witnessed singed 18 memorandums of understanding between Saudi and Iraqi companies in the fields of energy.

Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) plans to open an office in Iraq soon, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said during a visit to Iraq’s southern oil city of Basra, as relations between Riyadh and Baghdad thaw.

Speaking at an oil and gas conference in Basra, Khalid al-Falih called for increased economic cooperation and praised existing coordination with Iraq to help balance the oil market and boost crude prices.

“I would like to announce that SABIC is in the final stages of reopening its office in Iraq, which will result in the availability of petrochemical materials and offers opportunities for (the company) to expand its investment in this sector,” Falih said in a speech late on Monday.

Saudi Arabia’s Industrialization & Energy Services Co (TAQA) is also opening an office in Iraq which will “enhance the presence of the Saudi private sector in Iraq and support initiatives to expand investments,” he added.

Falih said that soon the two countries would discuss a power-grid link initiative and investments in renewable energy and power generation projects.

“Cooperation and integration with Iraq represents a strategic direction in the top priorities of the kingdom,” Falih said.

Saudi Arabia is wooing Baghdad in an effort to halt the growing regional influence of arch-foe Iran.

The two countries began taking steps towards detente in 2015 after 25 years of troubled relations starting with the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Iraq is seeking economic benefits from closer ties with Riyadh while Saudi Arabia hopes a stronger relationship with Baghdad would help rollback Iran’s influence in the region.