Chinese-built gas processing facility put into operation in Iraq

Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2026 shows the gas processing facility at the EBS oilfield in Baghdad Province, Iraq. A gas processing facility built and invested in by Chinese company ZhenHua Oil was officially put into operation at the EBS oilfield in central Iraq on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A gas processing facility built and invested in by Chinese company ZhenHua Oil was officially put into operation at the EBS oilfield in central Iraq on Tuesday.

Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudhair, along with other high-ranking Iraqi officials, attended the launching ceremony.

In an interview with Xinhua, Khudhair praised the Chinese company's professionalism and efficient execution, noting that Chinese enterprises are vital to the development of Iraq's oil and gas sector.

The project represents a tangible implementation of the ministry's strategy to end gas flaring and convert the wasted resource into productive energy that serves both the national economy and the Iraqi people, he said.

Ma Cheng, assistant general manager of ZhenHua Oil and general manager of Chinese EBS Petroleum Company, said the full operation of the unit will not only enhance the efficiency of oil and gas utilization and advance the green and low-carbon development of the EBS oilfield, but also help Iraq alleviate its natural gas shortage, contributing to the country's energy security and sustainable development.

Qi Zhaotao, deputy manager of the engineering, procurement and construction project for the EBS oilfield's Central Processing Facility at Sinopec Petroleum Engineering Corporation, said his team was responsible for the design, procurement, commissioning, and startup of the project, completing it ahead of schedule.

Located about 30 km southeast of Baghdad, the EBS oilfield is a key energy project in Iraq constructed and operated by ZhenHua Oil.

Currently producing about 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the oilfield plays a crucial role in securing energy supplies for the Iraqi capital and supporting local economic and social development.

Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudhair (3rd R, front) turns a valve during the launching ceremony of the gas processing facility at the EBS oilfield in Baghdad Province, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2026. A gas processing facility built and invested in by Chinese company ZhenHua Oil was officially put into operation at the EBS oilfield in central Iraq on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudhair delivers a speech during the launching ceremony of the gas processing facility at the EBS oilfield in Baghdad Province, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2026. A gas processing facility built and invested in by Chinese company ZhenHua Oil was officially put into operation at the EBS oilfield in central Iraq on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)