Shell hashes out plans for Majnoon oilfield



Royal Dutch Shell Group is still in talks with the Iraqi government over production targets for the Majnoon oilfield in southern Iraq, a company official said.

Shell, which has a 45 per cent stake in the field, began production in 2013 and exported the first crude in the first quarter of last year. “Following the successful development of the first phase of Majnoon, taking production to an average of 210,000 bpd, Shell is in discussions with the government on the optimal full-field development plan for Majnoon,” said Hans Nijkamp, the vice president and country chairman for Iraq.

He declined to give a timeline for the talks.

Iraq is holding talks with international oil companies on revised production targets for the southern fields because of the near 45 per cent drop in the price of oil since June last year.

Companies such as Shell that are developing the country’s southern fields are paid in oil that is equivalent to the money they are owed in cost recovery and remuneration fees.

Iraq owes US$9 billion to contractors for last year and is expected to pay about $18bn to investors this year, the International Energy Agency said in its April monthly oil report.

Iraq had initially set an overall production capacity target of 12 million bpd by 2020, which would have competed with the top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia. The initial target was set after Iraq signed service contracts in 2009-10 to develop its southern oilfields. It is expected now to be in the region of 9 million bpd.

Iraq produced 3.6 million bpd at the end of March, according to Opec's April monthly report.

Besides Majnoon, Shell also holds a 20 per cent stake in the southern oilfield of West Qurna 1, which is operated by ExxonMobil of the United States.

In terms of gas, Shell is moving along with its 25-year joint venture with Iraq's state-run South Gas Company to gather, treat and process associated gas from West Qurna 1, Zubair and Rumaila in the south. Shell has a 44 per cent stake in the joint venture, Basrah Gas Company. Japan's Mitsubishi has 5 per cent and the rest is held by South Gas Company. The gas is being fed into power plants to meet the country's rising electricity needs.

dalsaadi@thenational.ae

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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

ARSENAL IN 1977

Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland

Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal

Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal

Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham

Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)

Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal

Mar 05  Arsenal 1-4 ipswich

March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom

Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal

Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal

Apr 02  Arsenal 3-0 Leicester

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

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The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C600rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C500-4%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.9L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh119%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results:

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: Eghel De Pine, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Sheaar, Szczepan Mazur, Saeed Al Shamsi

6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA) Group 3 Dh500,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Torch, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,600m | Winner: Forjatt, Chris Hayes, Nicholas Bachalard

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,400m | Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Ridha ben Attia

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Qader, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roaulle

The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission 10-speed automatic

Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km

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