Iraq has selected seven international oil companies (IOCs) to bid to develop its Nassiriya oilfield and build a refinery as part of plans to expand the country's downstream operations, the oil ministry said.

Fourteen companies took part in the prequalification for the integrated development Nasiriya oil field and construction and operation of a new 300,000 barrel per day (bpd) refinery.

After years of war and sanctions, Iraq aims to produce 5-6 million bpd of crude by 2015 against a current output of 3.4 million bpd, the highest in three decades.

The seven companies, each of which will receive a letter of invitation to bid for the project, include Zarubezhneft and Lukoil of Russia, CNPCI of China, Brown Energy of the US, Reliance Industries of India, Total of France and the Japanese JGC & Tonen General. – Reuters