Iraq's oil ministry will ask Korea Gas Corp (Kogas) whether it can develop Akkas gas field on its own after KazMunaiGas Exploration Production withdrew from the deal, a senior oil official said.

Abdul-Mahdy al-Ameedi, director of the oil ministry's contracts and licensing directorate, told Reuters on Wednesday the ministry had already asked Kogas whether it could undertake the development of Akkas alone but would ask the company officially in the coming days.-Reuters