KUALA LUMPUR (July 27): Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has restarted production from the Gharraf oilfield in Iraq after going offline for four months since mid-March, when it brought Malaysian workers home amid the Covid-19 pandemic, a spokesman from Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex) told S&P Global Platts.

The resumption of work at the oil field in southern Iraq followed the dispatch of personnel in mid-June by the national oil company, after it had formed action plans with the Iraqi government that included transporting of staff.

However, it is not evident when exactly the Gharraf oil field will continue production.

Petronas declined to comment further when contacted by theedgemarkets.com.

On March 18, Petronas announced that it has safely evacuated all 80 of its Malaysian employees from Petronas Carigali Iraq Holding BV (PCIHBV), located in the Garraf Contract Area in Thi Qar Province, Iraq.

Petronas said it was part of the group’s precautionary measure to ensure the health, safety and well-being of its employees.

It also said PCIHBV has issued the necessary notice in accordance with the provisions of the development and production services contract and engaged with the host authority prior to the suspension of operation and evacuation of its employees.

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