Iraq oil minister meets Chevron in Washington on Basra field development

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Oil Minister Bayid Mohammed Hudeir al-Abadi met with U.S. energy company Chevron in Washington to discuss developing oil fields in Basra and expanding the country's production capacity, the state-run Basra Oil Company said. Basra Oil Company Director General Bassim Abdulkarim Nasser said the meeting was part of a series of engagements held by a government delegation accompanying Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaydi's visit to the United States. Talks covered the development of West Qurna 2, Nasiriya and Balad fields, as well as four exploration blocks and the modernization of oil pipelines. Abadi stressed the need to train Basra Oil Company staff, increase local employment and deliver social benefits to surrounding communities through infrastructure projects, Nasser said. The Iraqi delegation is scheduled to hold further talks with American oil companies in Houston.