Iraq's cabinet approved preliminary and confidentiality agreements for a
feasibility study into a strategic oil export pipeline between Basra Oil Company
and a consortium of US firm Capital TI, Chevron and Qatar's UCC Energy. The
consortium will prepare technical and financial feasibility reports comparing
proposed routes, including Basra–Haditha–Kirkuk–Ceyhan and
Basra–Haditha–Baniyas. The cabinet said the agreements do not impose any final
financial or contractual obligations on the Iraqi oil ministry and authorized
Basra Oil Company to sign a consulting services contract with KBR for the
Basra–Haditha pipeline.
