Iraq: Maliki, ExxonMobil and West Qurna-1note

Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki is said to have played a major role in awarding the oil service contract for West Qurna-1 to ExxonMobil-led consortium. The following 407-word report sheds light on Al-Maliki’s role and on whether Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Al-Shahristani was cooperating with him or not. It also tells what position Al-Shahristani is taking towards ExxonMobil’s efforts to get an investment contract for Majnoon oil field.