According to <i>Al-Jazeera T.V.</i> network, LUKOIL, one of the biggest oil companies in Russia, announced that it is currently negotiating the Iraqi government to get back its privileges to develop the Al-Kurna oil field in western Iraq. When LUKOIL was expelled from the West Kurna oil field, French company Totalfinaelf expected to get rights for development of Iraq's fields to the sum of approximately $3.4 billion. But no contracts were concluded with this company.
The Chairman of LUKOIL, Vagit Alekperov, expressed optimism concerning LUKOIL operation prospects in Iraq. LUKOIL hopes that the new Iraqi government will provide it with a license for the development of the West Kurna oil deposit, Alekperov added.
