The development of natural gas extraction in the Middle East : a case study of Iraq

Abstract EN

In this article I try to present the situation of gas international market and also the role played by the Middle East region on this market that has a high potential of production and export.

The largest gas reserves are in the Middle East region but they are not developed due to difficult technical conditions, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of needed funds and investments.

But the main problem is represented by great political and military tensions existing in the region which has a long negative tradition in maintaining and fueling a conflictual situation mirrored by successive wars and military conflicts.

One can see a permanent confrontation between major local powers and between major world powers which create high obstacles to social and economic progress.

In my opinion democracy and cooperation are the only viable alternatives based on a new vision upon international political and economic relations.

It is extremely important that great powers like USA, EU, China to be more involved in this region in order to provide enough economic, financial and technological support for developing gas projects, which may contribute to regional political stability and to the acceleration of Middle East economic development.