By Xinhua,
Amman : Jordan and Iraq have decided to renew an oil agreement signed in 2006 for three years with the same terms, under which Jordan can import Iraqi oil in preferential prices, local daily Jordan Times reported Friday.
The announcement was made by Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi at a press conference following Thursday’s talks with his visiting Iraqi counterpart Nouri Al Maliki.
Dahabi said under the original agreement, which would expire Aug 15, 2008, Baghdad agreed to provide Jordan with between 10 percent to 30 percent of its daily oil needs of around 100,000 barrels at a preferential price. But only “symbolic” land shipments were made because of security reasons.
The two sides reached an agreement to extend the validity of the agreement for three years.
He added that other routes were being considered for the oil delivery. “Conditions are now better than in the past” for the conveyance of Iraqi oil to the country, Dahabi told reporters.
Maliki expressed Iraq’s willingness to supply Jordan with its oil needs, adding that his country is now “recovering and moving from handling the security file to address the economic file”.
The two sides also discussed the issue of debts Iraq owes Jordanian businessmen, with Dahabi announcing that no decision has been taken in this regard, pending the outcome of meetings of an ad hoc joint panel.
On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki arrived in Amman on a two-day official visit to the country.