Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest oil producer, is selling its crude at an average of $20/b and plans to talk to international oil companies about their payments and contracts, the country’s oil minister said, Iraqi news outlet al-Mirbad reported Monday. Iraq is selling around 70% of its crude exports to Asia, Thamer al-Ghadhban said, al-Mirbad reported. The ministry is also in talks with IOCs over the best way to move forward given the low oil prices and their impact on Iraq’s economy and finances, he said. There is a need to reach an agreement, whereby the IOCs’ payments are not a burden on the government’s limited finances while at the same time making sure the IOCs continue to operate in the country, he said. Iraq is struggling to shore up its finances despite its ability to pump […]