CNPC presence in Iraq angers locals
Released : Thursday, September 17, 2009 12:51 PM
Despite a warm relationship between the China National Petroleum Corp. and the Iraqi government, local residents are not fond of the development, officials say.
CNPC and the Iraqi government struck a deal to develop the Ahdab field in the eastern province of Wasit as Baghdad looks to recover from years of neglect in its energy sector. But the presence of a foreign company with foreign workers has angered many of the locals, the Korean Times reports.
Provincial leaders and area residents complain they are getting nothing out of the development, resorting to sabotage and other tactics against CNPC.
"We get nothing directly from the Chinese company, and we are suffering," Wasit provincial council leader Mahmoud Abdul Ridha said. "There is an unemployment crisis. We need roads, schools, water treatment plants. We need everything."
CNPC says it does not need Iraqi workers because Ahdab development is still in the early stages. Farmers, meanwhile, say CNPC infrastructure is destroying their crops, forcing them to resort to vandalism as retribution.
The frustrations come as Iraq prepares to host international oil companies at a Turkish energy conference in October to highlight fields offered in its second round of auctions.
http://calibre.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=381771081
Released : Thursday, September 17, 2009 12:51 PM
Despite a warm relationship between the China National Petroleum Corp. and the Iraqi government, local residents are not fond of the development, officials say.
CNPC and the Iraqi government struck a deal to develop the Ahdab field in the eastern province of Wasit as Baghdad looks to recover from years of neglect in its energy sector. But the presence of a foreign company with foreign workers has angered many of the locals, the Korean Times reports.
Provincial leaders and area residents complain they are getting nothing out of the development, resorting to sabotage and other tactics against CNPC.
"We get nothing directly from the Chinese company, and we are suffering," Wasit provincial council leader Mahmoud Abdul Ridha said. "There is an unemployment crisis. We need roads, schools, water treatment plants. We need everything."
CNPC says it does not need Iraqi workers because Ahdab development is still in the early stages. Farmers, meanwhile, say CNPC infrastructure is destroying their crops, forcing them to resort to vandalism as retribution.
The frustrations come as Iraq prepares to host international oil companies at a Turkish energy conference in October to highlight fields offered in its second round of auctions.
http://calibre.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=381771081