The Oil Ministry is progressing aggressively with a programme of upgrading and rehabilitating its major refineries. Companies have requested more time to prepare bids for major projects to install diesel-hydro desulphurisation and isomerisation units at the Daura and Basra refineries. Bids for both projects are due on 15 December.

Shortages of gasoline and fuel oil posed a major barrier to reconstruction throughout the summer. Refineries have come under increasing pressure to deliver fuel to power stations while also having to meet rising domestic demand. Mounting queues at gasoline filling stations have helped to fuel civil unrest, which led to riots in Basra in August.