Basra Oil Company (BOC) and China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (CPPE) have signed a contract for a 950-kilometre seawater distribution pipeline network to supply multiple oilfields in southern Iraq, with project supervision by Austria's ILF Consulting Engineers. The contract forms part of Iraq's strategic Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP), which includes a central treatment facility with a capacity of 5 million barrels per day, expandable to 7-8 million barrels in later phases. Officials noted that the seawater injection scheme will reduce the reliance on freshwater sources currently diverted from rivers and aquifers, thereby preserving them for agricultural and human use. In August, China Petroleum Engineering Co. (CPECC) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. (CPPE) has been awarded the $2.5-billion contract on a "bid awarded, pending contract signing" basis, with a total implementation period of 54 months. (Source: Ministry of Oil)