Russia invites Iraq to join INTI standards to allow Russian oilfield service equipment supplies

BAGHDAD. Feb 27 (Interfax) - Russia has invited Iraq to join the standards of the Oil and Gas Technology Initiatives Institute (INTI), which would enable Russian companies to bid in tenders to supply Russian oilfield service equipment to the country, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev told reporters after a meeting of the Russia-Iraq intergovernmental commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, which he co-chairs.

He said the lack of certification for equipment from the American Petroleum Institute (API) due to sanctions is a barrier to Russian companies entering the Iraqi market.

"We have a fairly large amount of equipment with which we can come out and participate in tenders, not only for production and processing of oil and gas, but also electrical equipment and much else," Tsivilev said.

"The problem is one and the same, so we're asking our colleagues to switch to ISO standards, joint standards that we have now created based on the [INTI]. Join our international standards. We're developing such standards together with Kuwait, together with Saudi Arabia. This is a good opportunity to switch to a standard that is close to American standards, but far broader. Resolving this issue would enable us to participate in tenders," Tsivilev said.