Iraqi Government Bars Chevron From Oil Fields

The Iraqi government has announced that it is barring U.S. oil company Chevron from working at any of Iraq's oil fields unless Chevron voids a deal it signed with Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq.

Iraq's Oil Ministry said on July 24 that it was barring Chevron from "accessing any contract or agreement with the federal oil ministry and its companies…unless it backs off from the contract it signed."

Chevron signed a deal last week to acquire Kurdish oil concessions from Indian company Reliance despite objections from Baghdad.

Baghdad insists all oil and gas contracts be signed with the central government.

Iraq's government has already warned another U.S. company – ExxonMobil – that it would take necessary measures if the firm did not cancel an oil exploration contract it signed with Iraqi Kurdish authorities last November.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa