Total expects that the latest round of bidding on exploration licences in Iraq will be complete by the end of the summer.

French oil and gas major Total anticipates that the licensing of new fields in Iraq will be complete by the summer.

Speaking to Reuters, Jean-Jacques Mosconi, head of strategy and planning at the company, said that the success of the bids will be contingent on the strength of the proposals to bring fields back up to full capacity after years of halted production.

Commenting on the timeframe for the resolution of the bidding round, he said: "It is a matter of two or three months starting from now... not only in Bin Umar but also in fields which are open for bids."

Total and Chevron have been invited to bid jointly against Norwegian giant StatoilHydro for rights to the Nahr Bin Umar field.

The company are likely to stress t commitment to corporate social responsibility and the development of human capital as it identifies staff training and education as a core priority.

Global Education and Training event: Getenergy for Iraq