Zubair, which has capacity to produce 200,000 barrels a day of oil, is one of Iraq's main gas producing fields. Most of the country's gas is associated and increasing flows of gas is essential to restore output from various industries such as petrochemicals and fertilisers in the south.

Power is also dependent on gas, with 2,190 MW of Iraq's total installed capacity generated by gas-fired turbines. Shortages of gas during the summer prompted the government to request help from the US Agency for International Development to convert gas turbines to run on oil in order to maintain supply (Iraq, MEED Special Report, 24:10:03, pages 38-40).