Iraq oil contracts in preparation

There are currently two rounds of bidding going on for energy contracts in Iraq.

From Reuters:

The Iraqi oil ministry was expected to announce the winners of the first round by the middle of this year, while contracts for the second round would be finalised by the end of 2009.

The first bidding round was announced in June for 8 oil and gas fields. Some 35 companies qualified in the first bidding round after around 120 applied, and 32 were still in the race for deals.
Iraq announced a second-bidding round for oil and gas fields at the end of December, naming 11 fields it would open up for bidding for service contracts. Iraq has received submissions from 38 international energy companies to qualify for a second round of bidding for contracts; Iraq will decide by the end of March which of those companies were qualified to bid.

The excellent Iraqi Oil Report also mentions that Iraq would like to speed up cooperation on energy with Syria; for instance a pipeline could link Kirkuk oil field to the Mediterranean through Syria.

Also IOR notes that A leading international union group has called on Iraq’s government to break away from Saddam Hussein-era regulations that prevent free association for workers.