INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
2023-12-30T15:22:13+00:00 Share fontEnable Reading ModeA-AA+Iraq highlighted its game plan to achieve a clean energy transition and reduce
its carbon footprint at the recent 28th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28)
The objectives include reaching zero gas flaring by 2028; generating 12 gigawatts (GW) of power from renewable sources in the next few
years; installing systems to capture and detect methane emissions at oil and gas facilities; and establishing a green bank for sustainable
development, based on data shared during the climate conference
Now that the green talk at COP28 is over, Iraq needs to take immediate action to design a legal framework that can facilitate the
transformation of its energy landscape
Currently, the Iraqi government is still drafting a law on renewable energy that experts say should have been passed years ago
balance its plans to reduce emissions while increasing crude production and continuing its use of high-sulfur liquid fuels in its power
dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with gas flaring by 2028
Some progress has been achieved in recent years, though Iraq flares 1,200 million standard cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of gas while
importing 1,000 MMcf/d from neighboring Iran
In 2021, the oil ministry announced a 3B USD investment plan through 2025 for BGC to increase gas production by 40%
Iraqi officials have said that the aim is to reach 1,400 MMcf/d of production from associated gas collected from West Qurna 1, Zubair, and
This would lead to lower emissions
Baghdad oil field, using carbon credits as part of its efforts to lower emissions
Alsalait added that Canada, Norway and two local companies are bidding for the project
While these initiatives are important, they need to be safeguarded
That cannot be done without a modern regulatory framework that can enable and accelerate efforts to lower emissions
Unlike some of its neighbors, such as Jordan, Iraq lacks a renewable energy and energy efficiency law that can play a pivotal role in
fostering the development, integration, and utilization of clean energy sources
The country needs to move fast on legislation that encourages investment in renewable energy, establishes incentives for the adoption of
sustainable practices, and contributes to the establishment of clear standards for environmental protection and emissions reduction
Beside the absence of a renewable energy law, Iraq has yet to draft and pass legislation to regulate carbon emissions from oil and gas
fields, particularly in the southern province of Basra
Investigative reports have revealed how some foreign companies operating at giant oil fields have been blamed for cases of cancer in
communities living near facilities that flare associated gas instead of capturing it
Iraq additionally lacks a law to regulate nitrogen and sulfur oxides (NOx and SOx) emissions from large and aging oil-fired power plants
that burn high-sulfur crude oil and heavy fuel oil
Iraq has been unable to achieve full generation capacity to meet demand due to several reasons, including the ageing of its plants and
environment which are both facing high risks due to pollution and climate change
Amid green talk, oil ambitions remain While Iraq is taking small steps towards an energy transition, it remains incapable of phasing out
Moreover, its opposition to such proposals was loud and clear at COP28
"We agree to phase out emissions, phase down emissions, not the fuel," Alsalait has previously said, noting that oil and gas revenues fund
2023, crude oil production stood at 4.18M barrels per day (bpd) while overall crude exports were at 3.43M bpd
Most cargoes head to China and India, data from Kpler show
Iraq raked in about 8.512B USD last month from its overall crude oil exports, based on a statement published by the Iraqi oil ministry
Despite various technical challenges, Iraq has been reiterating its plans to increase oil production capacity to about 6-7M bpd in the next
few years, from its current maximum capacity of about 5M bpd
Such a boost would require the involvement of international oil companies
for the West Qurna 2 field in southern Iraq by another decade, through 2045
Meanwhile, Iraq has been announcing licensing rounds for new oil and gas projects throughout the country, in another sign that the economy
will remain driven by hydrocarbons for years to come
immediate phasing out of fossil fuels is rooted in its heavy dependence on hydrocarbons
While the country acknowledges the impact of climate change on its population and environment, oil ministry advisor for climate change Abdul
Iraq should not be expected to move away from its vast natural resources, including giant gas fields that remain untapped
equipping itself with the necessary, modern legal frameworks
