Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tareq el Mullah asserted the importance of cooperation between Egypt and Iraq in the fields of oil and gas, noting that he had talks with senior Iraqi officials who showed unlimited support for cooperation with Egypt in the fields of industry, trade, transport, agriculture, oil and energy.

In statements to MENA correspondent in Iraq, Mullah described the outcome of his visit to Iraq as "more than excellent" as it would open spheres of cooperation in fields of oil and gas and effectively enhance bilateral relations.

He also explained that the Iraqi side will make visits to Egypt in order to carry out any agreements that would benefit the interests of the two peoples.

The minister said he agreed during the visit on importing crude oil from Basra to be refined in Egypt along with beefing up cooperation between the Egyptian companies operating in the oil and gas sector and the Iraqi side. 

Mullah also noted that Egypt has strong potentials in the refining field and could meet the needs of the Iraqi side from the oil derivatives.

He said the Egyptian Petroleum Authority has a 10 percent share in one of the oil fields in southern Iraq, adding that an agreement has been clinched as per Siba gas field with a 15 percent share along with investments in the fields of oil and gas.

Mullah also underlined the importance of establishing Egyptian-Iraqi partnership and not just carrying out limited and interim missions.

He also made it clear that Egypt has specialized companies to train technical cadres, noting that such issue was included in the cooperation protocol signed between the two companies. 

Mullah asserted that work is under way to expand the tasks of the Egyptian companies operating in Iraq along with an agreement on establishing joint Egyptian-Iraqi companies.