Iraq’s Oil Ministry has pushed back the deadline for international oil companies to prequalify for the development of the Nasiriya oil field and refinery, after further requests for more time from interested firms.

The Petroleum Contracts & Licensing Directorate (PCLD) has now extended the deadline for interested refinery operators and upstream oil firms to submit their documents to 28 February, instead of 15 January. It had originally planned to prequalify firms on 13 December.

Firms must pay a fee of $15,000 along with its submission.

The scheme covers the integrated development of the Nasiriya oil field in the Thi-Qar province of southern Iraq, along with the construction and operation of a new 300,000 barrel-a-day refinery.