The Oil Ministry is in touch with foreign firms for the project, which will be announced after an agreement is signed, it said, quoting Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad.

Jihad said the refinery would be awarded as an “investment project” and that it could also include a petrochemical plant.

“After we reach an agreement with a foreign company or a consortium of foreign firms, we will announce project details,” he said.

Iraq, OPEC’s second largest oil producer, is planning to build several oil refineries in a post-war drive to develop its hydrocarbon sector and other facilities.