Iraq Launches GGIP to Boost Gas Recovery, Solar Power, and Oil Production

The Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP)—signed in September 2021—is a major multi‑energy initiative in southern Iraq led by TotalEnergies (45%), with Basrah Oil Company (30%) and QatarEnergy (25%). With an estimated US$10 billion investment over four years, the project integrates the development of associated gas infrastructure, oilfield upgrades, solar generation, and seawater treatment.

The GGIP project features four sub-projects:

• Associated Gas Upstream Development (AGUP), which aims to develop production from the Ratawi field by upgrading the existing facilities to reach a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day (b/d) during phase 1, followed by 210,000 b/d during phase 2 by building a new plant.
• Ar-Ratawi Gas Midstream Project (GMP), which aims to eliminate flaring and recover the gas from several oil fields. Collected and processed, the gas will then be transported by pipeline to supply the local power plants, thereby improving the electricity supply to this region, which is regularly affected by power cuts. Until the commissioning of the GMP, scheduled in 2028, the ArtawiGas25 Project will reduce flaring on the Ratawi field from the end of 2025, followed by the neighbouring Majnoon and West Qurna fields. Eliminating flaring at these three fields represents a reduction of approximately 6 million tons of CO₂ per year.
• Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP), which involves building a seawater treatment plant between the ports of Khor Zubair and Umm Qasr. The plant will be capable of treating 5 million barrels of water per day during phase 1. The filtered water will be piped to the Zubair, Rumaila, Majnoon, West Qurna and Ar-Ratawi fields to maintain pressure in the fields. It will replace the fresh water currently drawn from the rivers and groundwater. This project will reduce water stress in the area and free up 250,000 cubic meters of fresh water per day for irrigation and local agricultural needs.
• A 1-gigawatt solar power plant, the first in Iraq. Spanning some 2,200 hectares near the gas treatment plant, it will be divided into four units to adapt more easily to the capacity of the local grid. This power plant will supply electricity to 350,000 homes in the region, while avoiding 2 million tons of CO₂ emissions per year. It will contribute to the Iraqi government's goal of meeting 12% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2027.