''Iraq
would favor bids by Russia's Lukoil and China’s CNPC if they decided to
buy Exxon Mobil's stake in the super-giant West Qurna-1 oilfield, a
senior oil ministry official said on Friday.
A
sale of the stake to either company would significantly strengthen the
position of Russian or China in exploiting Iraq's oil reserves, the
world's fourth biggest.
"During two
separate meetings with executives from CNPC and Lukoil, Iraq informed
the companies that it favours their contribution to purchase Exxon's
share in West Qurna-1 oilfield," the official told Reuters.
Baghdad
said it had received "positive signals" from both companies that they
will consider making an offer for the $50 billion project, which Exxon
wants to pull out of to focus on its deal for exploration blocks in
Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region.''
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