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France’s TotalEnergies starts construction on Iraq gas project

The ArtawiGas25 facility, which is part of the gas growth integrated project, will process 50 million cubic feet per day (Mcf/d) of gas previously flared

by Kudakwashe Muzoriwa

January 13, 2025

TotalEnergies starts construction on Iraqi gas project

Image credit: ANTOINE BOUREAU/ Getty Images

TotalEnergies, Basra Oil Company, and QatarEnergy have commenced work on a $250m project to capture gas from the Ratawi oil field in the Basra region of southern Iraq.

The ArtawiGas25 facility, which is part of the gas growth integrated project (GGIP), will process 50 million cubic feet per day (Mcf/d) of gas previously flared. The gas will supply local power plants, covering the demand of approximately 200,000 households in the Basra region.

The $250m investment is part of the $10bn GGIP. The project is expected to create up to 160 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase and 30 permanent positions once operational.

“We are very pleased to launch the ArtawiGas25 project: it will give the Iraqi people a tangible insight into the benefits of the GGIP, which will provide more energy with less emissions. We look forward to the next GGIP milestones in the coming weeks with the start of construction of the 1 gigawatt (GW) solar project,” said Julien Pouget, senior vice president of Middle East & North Africa, Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies.

TotalEnergies agreed with the Iraqi Government to proceed with the long-delayed $27bn energy project in 2023, a deal that is expected to boost the country’s oil and gas production and enhance solar energy generation.

The project includes a large-scale gas processing plant, which aims to recover gas flared on three oil fields and supply it to power plants. It also involves redeveloping the Ratawi field and building a large solar farm and seawater treatment plant.

Last October, QatarEnergy agreed to acquire a 50 per cent stake in the solar power project, while TotalEnergies will retain the remaining 50 per cent.

The solar power project, which will be one of the largest in the world upon its completion, will consist of 2 million high-efficiency bifacial solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers and can produce up to 1.25 GW.