Delegates of oil companies invited to attend Iraq’s first concession round this week will gather at an Iraq Energy Expo at a new a convention centre by the beleagured country’s Baghdad International Airport.

Some of the pre-qualified oil companies in Iraq’s first licensing round were in London this week for a roadshow, as letters went out asking them to bid on acreage.

The pre-qualified will attend the Iraq Energy Expo & Conference Oct. 17- 19, 2008, showpiece of Iraq’s recovering upstream and downstream segments.

“Your participation at the expo is essential to helping us understand your company’s capabilities,” a statement from Iraq’s Oil Ministr said.

It is hoped a new hydrocarbon law will allow companies from around the world to tap Iraq’s oil and gas reserves, the second-largest in the world.