The Ministry of Oil confirmed on Friday that Iraq has very large oil and gas resources.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for Gas Affairs, Izzat Sabir Ismail, headed the Iraqi delegation participating in the 27th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), which was held in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Thursday, October 23, 2025, according to a statement by the Ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency – INA.
The conference proceedings witnessed the election of Philippe Mshlabila of Nigeria as the new Secretary-General of the Forum, succeeding the Algerian Mohamed Hamel, who has held the position since 2022.
It was also agreed to hold the next ministerial meeting in Russia in 2026.
During his speech at the conference, according to the statement, the Undersecretary emphasized “Iraq’s keenness to enhance cooperation and communication with the Forum’s member states, contributing to the stability of the global gas market,” noting that “Iraq plays a pivotal role in the oil, gas, and energy sectors at the regional and global levels.”
“Iraq has a very large oil and gas resources that qualify it to be one of the major players in the international energy market,” he explained, emphasizing “the Iraqi government’s ongoing efforts to develop free gas fields and exploit the gas associated with oil production through major strategic projects aimed at expanding liquefaction, storage, and export capabilities, and transforming Iraq into a regional energy hub.”
The Undersecretary noted that “Iraq is working to develop complementary industries to the gas sector, including petrochemicals, fertilizers, and electricity generation, with the aim of maximizing the added value of national resources and achieving sustainable economic development.”
“Iraq is moving steadily towards more sustainable paths by adopting modern technologies to reduce emissions and expanding investment in renewable energy projects such as solar and wind power,” he added.
