STORY: China-built gas processing plant contributes to green development of Iraq's oil field
DATELINE: Oct. 6, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:22
LOCATION: Baghdad
CATEGORY: ENERGY/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the gas plant
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ALI MAARIJ, Undersecretary of the Iraqi Oil Ministry for distribution affairs
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ALI DOUAI, Governor of Maysan Province
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): FANG JIAZHONG, Head of PetroChina's Halfaya oil field
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): JIANG FENG, General manager of the CPECC's Middle East branch

STORYLINE:

Chinese energy companies have completed the mechanical work for the first associated gas processing plant in the Halfaya oil field, which is located in Iraq's southern province of Maysan.
   
The plant, expected to be operational in the first half of next year, is part of Iraq's efforts to improve its capacity for processing gas, benefit economically from gas, and reduce carbon emissions.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ALI MAARIJ, Undersecretary of the Iraqi Oil Ministry for distribution affairs
"The Halfaya gas processing plant project will help increase power generation in Maysan Province, save natural gas import costs, and produce liquefied petroleum gas, condensate and other petroleum derivatives that can increase government revenue."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ALI DOUAI, Governor of Maysan Province
"The gas processing plant is also important to improve the environment considering that in the past the gas was burned and this affects the environment in general. With the operation of the plant, five flaring sites will be shut down, contributing to reducing pollution and improving the environment."
   
PetroChina and the China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation (CPECC) have engaged in this project to help reduce the wasteful burning of gas in Iraq and bolster its green development.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): FANG JIAZHONG, Head of PetroChina's Halfaya oil field
"(Upon the completion of the plant,) the energy shortage in Iraq will be significantly eased, with the environment and climate improved. And, the project is also a model of Chinese-Iraqi cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): JIANG FENG, General manager of the CPECC's Middle East branch
"The project has created many job opportunities for locals during the construction period. Upon completion, it's expected to create sustainable social value and benefit the livelihood of local people."

The Halfaya oil field, covering an area of 288 square km, comprises more than 300 oil wells, three crude oil processing facilities, two power plants, a water treatment plant, a natural gas processing plant, and a civil airport.
   
As the oil field's annual production capacity is estimated at 20 million tonnes, the gas processing plant is expected to produce purified gas sufficient to generate 5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Baghdad.
(XHTV)