Kurdistan Regional Government
FRI, 24 MAY 2013 16:43 Erbil, GMT +3
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KRG Natural Resources Ministry: Oil, gas, mining sector appointments

TUE, 25 MAR 2008 17:16 | KRG.org

KRG Ministry of Natural Resources seeks qualified staff and advisers

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq ("Kurdistan") seeks several qualified professionals to staff and advise the ministry on Kurdistan's emerging oil and gas and mining sectors.

Background

The Kurdistan Region is a federal region of Iraq recognised in the Iraq Federal Constitution of 2005, governed since 1992 by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Pursuant to the Federal Constitution, the KRG has broad administrative powers in the upstream and downstream oil and gas sector in Kurdistan, and is engaged in cooperative petroleum arrangements with the Federal Government analogous to those in other petroleum-exporting federations. The KRG also has full administrative powers in relation to mining activities in Kurdistan.

The MNR was established in 2006 and is based in the Kurdistan capital, Erbil. On petroleum administration, the MNR operates under the supervision of the KRG's Regional Council for Oil and Gas, administers Kurdistan's Oil and Gas Law (Law No. 22 of 2007) that entered into force on 9 August 2007. The MNR has issued more than 25 production sharing contracts (PSCs) to international oil companies for the exploration and development of petroleum in Kurdistan, and is planning further contracting rounds. The MNR is embarking on an ambitious programme to develop Kurdistan's petroleum storage, transportation, refining infrastructure and to actively support efforts to solve the region's power shortages. The MNR is also developing Kurdistan's emerging mining sector.

Positions and how to apply
Positions are full time or part time for a one to two year duration, and are based in Erbil, capital of the Kurdsitan Region in Iraq. The positions require travel to Suleimaniah and Dohuk governorates in the Kurdistan Region as necessary, and international travel. Consultants will be engaged through a KRG-affiliated organisation. All positions require oral and written fluency in English and excellent presentation skills. Successful applications will have a track record and commitment to high-quality work products.

All positions will require the professional to engage in mentoring and capacity building activities as required.

Knowledge of Kurdish and Arabic languages are an advantage but not critical. Consultancy packages negotiable. The KRG is an equal opportunity employer. Priority will be given to Iraqi nationals, consistent with applicable KRG legislation.

Please see the 'Appointments' section below for full details of the positions. Applicants should submit a covering letter and CV to the Ministry of Natural Resources by email at mnr(at)krgoil.com by 5 May 2008.

This announcement can also be viewed and downloaded as a PDF file.

Petroleum
As well as developing a robust private sector, the MNR's petroleum programme will include the institutional development of a Kurdistan National Oil Company (KNOC), a Kurdistan Exploration and Production Company (KEPCO), and a Kurdistan Organisation for Downstream Operations (KODO), all of which were established in the Oil and Gas Law and over which the Ministry has regulatory authority.

Kurdistan is widely considered to be highly prospective for oil and gas, containing approximately 25 billion barrels of probable and possible oil and significant quantities of natural gas.

The MNR is seeking experienced international personnel to advise the Ministry, and to advise KNOC, KEPCO, and KODO.

Mining
Kurdistan is believed to have significant mineral resources, but is largely unexplored. The KRG intends to have developed, by the end of 2008, a world-class mining regime, including a mining law, based on the same production-sharing principles as apply in the petroleum sector.

The MNR is seeking experienced international personnel to advise and work in the Kurdistan Region's largely undeveloped mining sector.

Appointments

MINISTER'S OFFICE

1 Adviser to the Chief of Staff
Senior professional with international governmental experience to

  • advise the administration of the Ministry;
  • assist in the preparation of the MNR budget;
  • assist the Minister in the deployment of MNR staff and consultants;
  • provide guidance on the security and maintenance of MNR premises.

    1 Executive Assistant
    Professional with experience in public administration to assist the Minister in daily duties as required, including managing correspondence, travel and scheduling.

    1 Senior Policy Adviser
    Senior professional to advise the Minister on

  • international and regional political developments;
  • the analysis of oil policy developments in the region;
  • strategic planning for Kurdistan's oil and mining sector.

    Applicants should be fluent in Arabic and English, with Kurdish an advantage. Applicants should have expertise in international relations and Middle East politics. Oil policy experience an advantage.

    1 Senior Oil Policy Adviser
    Senior oil and gas expert with experience in oil and gas policy development in a Production Sharing Contract regime to assist and advise the Minister to:

  • establish a long-term, medium-term and short term oil sector plan
  • develop general petroleum policy and technical specifications;
  • negotiate upstream and downstream agreements;
  • develop petroleum and mineral related legislation;
  • prepare Ministerial regulations as necessary;
  • formulate the institutional development of KNOC, KEPCO, and KODO;
  • develop a five-year MNR capacity building programme to develop indigenous Kurdistan capacity in the oil and gas sector;
  • liaise as necessary with the Kurdistan Council of Ministers, the Regional Council for Oil and Gas, the Kurdistan Parliament, and the Federal Government of Iraq.

    Applicants should have 15 years experience in the public administration of national oil and gas development.

    1 Senior Energy Planning Adviser
    Petroleum expert to

  • advise the Minister on domestic gas planning
  • advise the Minister on gas export policies
  • prepare, as necessary, economic modeling.

    1 Senior Economic and Planning Adviser
    Petroleum economist to

  • advise the Minister in the negotiation of upstream and downstream petroleum and mining projects;
  • advise the Minister in designing optimal fiscal regimes for projects;
  • prepare, as necessary, economic modelling;
  • advise, as necessary, on the auditing of petroleum and mining contracts;
  • liaise as necessary with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning.

    Applicants should have extensive experience in assessing and analysing the economics of upstream and downstream oil and gas projects, including production sharing contracts, and transfer pricing.

    1 Senior Legal Adviser
    Lawyer with extensive international commercial experience in the petroleum and mining industries to

  • advise the Minister in the negotiation and drafting of upstream and downstream contracts;
  • advise and assist in the preparation of petroleum- and mineral-related Kurdistan legislation;
  • assist in the negotiation of Iraq federal cooperative petroleum arrangements, including legislation, and related matters;
  • prepare general legal research and analysis;
  • liaise as necessary with the Kurdistan Council of Ministers, the Kurdistan Ministry of Justice, the Legal Committee of the Kurdistan Parliament, and the Federal Government of Iraq; and
  • manage, as necessary, external legal advice.

    Applicants should have approximately 12 years professional experience in international oil and gas law.

    1 Legal Adviser
    Lawyer with international commercial experience to

  • assist in the drafting of KRG petroleum and mining contracts and legislation;
  • advise and assist the Senior Legal Adviser.

    Applicants should have 7 years professional experience in international oil and gas law.

    1 Public Affairs Director
    A senior policy expert to work in the Minister's office to

  • oversee the publication of information regarding Kurdistan's oil and gas sector, pursuant to the requirements of the Oil and Gas Law and EITI principles;
  • establish and manage the MNR website;
  • prepare media releases and other public statements as required;
    organise conferences as required;
  • provide general advice to the Minister on domestic and international public relations.


    MNR GENERAL DIRECTORATE

    3 Petroleum Contract Management Advisers
    Petroleum experts with extensive petroleum industry experience, including financial, regulatory, geological and upstream engineering expertise, to

  • advise the MNR General Directorate on the administration of Kurdistan's existing PSCs;
  • assist MNR staff in monitoring PSCs for compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, and contractual obligations;
  • make economic assessments of PSC work plans and development plans;
  • advise KRG officials representing the MNR on the Management Committees established under those PSCs.

    1 Adviser to the MNR General Inspector
    Expert with experience in petroleum regulation to

  • audit the accounts of private investors in the petroleum sector
  • advise the MNR General Inspector on audit planning, monitoring, and to formulate policies and standards.

    2 Petroleum Exploration Advisers
    Petroleum experts with extensive petroleum industry experience, including geological and engineering expertise, to

  • advise the Minister and the Oil and Gas Director-General on Kurdistan's exploration acreage;
  • assist in the preparations for the negotiation of new PSCs;
  • monitor and advise on the implementation of exploration programmes by PSC holders;
  • advise on overall technical database management and standards.


    GEOSCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS

    4 Geoscientists
    Petroleum geophysicists and geologists to

  • Evaluate petrophysical and geophysical data, reports and literature to assess prospectivity at all scales;
  • analyse quality control well logging and seismic data acquisition and processing, and propose additional work, reprocessing or acquisition of new data or special studies as required;
  • interpret structure, stratigraphy, paleogeography, lithology and fluid fill from seismic reflectivity and acoustic impedance data with relevant attribute extractions and cubes such as coherency, dip and frequency;
  • critical assessment of reports and work undertaken by PSC holders;
  • interpret well log data and perform petrophysical studies;
  • train and supervise local staff

    Solid background in all areas of 2D/3D seismic interpretation, well log interpretation in carbonate reservoirs, subsurface mapping, structural geology, salt tectonics and sequence stratigraphy. Knowledge and/or experience of co-ordinate systems, acquisition and processing, multi-component seismic gravity and magnetics, petroacoustics, data inversion and modelling.

    BSc or higher qualification in petroleum exploration, petroleum geology, geophysics, physics or equivalent would be an advantage. Applicants should be proficient in the latest geological techniques and familiar with main exploration plays in Iraq in general and in the Kurdistan Region in particular. Familiarity with the use of geoscience software is essential.

    3 Engineers
    Petroleum experts with extensive petroleum production and reservoir engineering expertise, to

  • advise on coring and well testing, assisting with review of development plans for oil and gas fields and drilling and other operational production activities;
  • conduct field and well evaluations including well test analysis, reservoir engineering and simulation studies, oil and gas reserve evaluation, and prepare production forecasts;
  • assist the Contract Managers in monitoring production and drilling activities for compliance with legislation, regulations;
  • train local staff and perform other technical duties as required.

    Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or physics and should have a minimum of five years reservoir engineering experience. Experience of modern industry software is essential.

    2 Petroleum Downstream Advisers
    Petroleum experts with extensive downstream petroleum expertise to

  • advise the Minister in the design, negotiation, and regulation of downstream petroleum infrastructure;
  • supervise oil and gas storage, refining, power generation and transportation operations;
  • assist and advise the Minister in the negotiation of cooperative arrangements on downstream infrastructure with the Federal Government of Iraq.

    1 Adviser to the Chief Executive of KNOC
    Senior oil and gas expert to work with the Minister and the Kurdistan Council of Ministers in the institutional development of KNOC, the Kurdistan nationally-owned oil company, with the ability to compete for petroleum contracts in the Kurdistan Region in respect of producing fields and enter into joint ventures with other entities; liaise with the Federal Government of Iraq as necessary.

    1 Adviser to the Chief Executive of KEPCO
    Senior oil and gas expert to work with the Minister and the Kurdistan Council of Ministers in the institutional development of KEPCO, the Kurdistan nationally-owned oil company with the ability to compete for petroleum contracts in the Kurdistan Region in respect of exploration acreage.

    1 Adviser to the Chief Executive of KODO
    Senior oil and gas expert to work with the Minister and the Kurdistan Council of Ministers in the institutional development of KODO, the Kurdistan nationally-owned entity with the power to manage and participate in downstream petroleum operations in the Kurdistan Region.

    2 Information Technology Specialists
    IT specialists with expertise in establishing petroleum sector IT networks. Familiarity with standard oil industry software essential.

    1 Adviser on Data Management
    Specialist to oversee the management of all MNR data and information regarding petroleum operations in the Kurdistan Region.

    1 Occupational Health and Safety Officer

  • supervising the safety of petroleum facilities;
  • receiving reports on accidents.

    1 Environmental Protection Officer

  • minimising damage to the natural environment
  • supervising environment protection obligations.


    MINING DIRECTORATE

    1 Senior Mining Policy Adviser to the Director-General for Mining
    Senior mining expert with experience in mining policy development in a Production Sharing Contract regime to

  • provide general mining policy and technical advice to the D-G;
  • advise the D-G in the development of mining legislation;
  • advise the D-G in the preparation of Ministerial regulations as necessary;
  • develop, under the guidance of the D-G, a five-year MNR capacity building programme to develop indigenous Kurdistan capacity in the mining sector;
  • liaise as necessary with the Kurdistan Council of Ministers, the Kurdistan Parliament, and the Federal Government of Iraq.

    Applicants should have 15 years experience in the public administration of national mining policy development.

    2 Mining Exploration Advisers
    Petroleum experts with extensive mining industry experience, including geological and engineering expertise, to

  • advise the Minister and the Director-General on Kurdistan's mining exploration acreage;
  • assist in the negotiation of new mining contracts;
  • advise on mining legislation and regulations.

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