Iraq has inked a preliminary deal with a consortium led by China's National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to develop a promising oil field.
The deal is part of the occupied country's effort to boost its lagging oil production and increase reconstruction revenue.
CNPC and consortium partners Malaysia's Petronas and France's Total won the rights to develop the 4.1 billion barrel Halfaya field in southern Iraq.
The agreement is one of seven struck during only the second round of postwar bidding which offered 15 of the country's most lucrative oil fields for development.
The consortium plans to raise production from the current 3,100 barrels per day to 535,000 barrels per day over 13 years, Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said.
Under the deal, the consortium will be paid $1.40 (88p) per barrel produced.
The 20-year deal must still be approved by Iraq's cabinet.
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