Crescent sponsors Iraq energy delegation

LONDON, March 31 (UPI) -- Three Iraqi universities sent delegates to the GetEnergy 2008 summit in London this month, courtesy of Crescent Petroleum.

Crescent, which boasts offices throughout Iraq and an active gas partnership in Iraqi Kurdistan, said it gave "full sponsorship" for delegates from the University of Bagdad, Basra University and the American University of Iraq-Sulaimania.

GetEnergy is an international summit "committed to forging relationships between oil and gas companies, governments, universities, and other training providers," according to its Web site.

"'The students and faculty of the three Iraqi universities will use this unique platform to establish collaborative working relationships with leading international oil and gas companies to develop new research projects with far-reaching positive impact on the energy sector in Iraq and the next generation of students and professionals," said Abbas al-Husaini, secretary general of the Iraq Higher Education Organizing Committee.

Crescent, based in the United Arab Emirates, is among the international oil companies hoping to land a deal in Iraq's oil and gas sector. The companies have provided free training and studies to Iraq's Oil Ministry.

Crescent and Dana Gas, of which Crescent is a major shareholder, are developing gas prospects in Iraqi Kurdistan. While companies that have signed deals with the Kurdistan Regional Government have been threatened with blacklisting by Baghdad, Crescent appears untouched.