On June 21, CNPC put into operation the first phase of Iraq's Al-Ahdab Oilfield, with a production capacity of 3 million tons per year, ahead of schedule. This is the first new production capacity construction project to become operational in Iraq for more than 20 years, marking significant progress in CNPC's building of major oil and gas cooperation projects in the Middle East.

The project construction provided more than 2,300 job positions for Kut area, with 60% of the staff being local hired.