On June 16, the first phase of CNPC's 5Mt/a production capacity building project in Iraq’s Halfaya Oilfield became operational, 15 months ahead of contracted time limit.

This marks significant progress in restoring economy and promoting crude production for Iraq and Maysan Province. At present, the second phase of the Halfaya Oilfield project with 10 Mt/a capacity is under construction.

The Halfaya project is CNPC's largest overseas investment unit for which it also acts as the operator. Located in Maysan Province in southeast Iraq, Halfaya Oilfield is one of the country's seven giant oilfields. On December 11, 2009, a consortium consisting of CNPC’s PetroChina, Total and Petronas won the bidding in a tender for the Halfaya Oilfield project, with CNPC as the operator. On January 27, 2010, the consortium signed a 20-year oil production agreement with Iraq's South Oil Company, which took effect on March 1, 2010. The first phase of the Halfaya Oilfield project started on September 20, 2010.