02:08 PM EDT, 06/26/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Excelerate Energy ( EE ) is in advanced talks with Iraq to help arrange the country's first liquefied natural gas imports as it seeks to reduce its reliance on Iranian gas, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.

Texas-based Excelerate is among several companies that have bid to supply Iraq with an LNG import vessel and secure fuel deliveries, the news outlet reported, citing Ali Salman, acting director general of the state-run South Gas, which is overseeing the project.

The move comes after Iraq suspended electricity imports from Iran earlier this year when the US ended a sanctions waiver. While Iranian gas supplies have continued, recent US and Israeli strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure have highlighted the fragility of that supply route.

To support LNG imports, Iraq has extended a gas pipeline to the Khor Al-Zubair port on the Gulf, where a floating storage and regasification unit will be moored. The regasified LNG will be fed into the national gas network, according to the news outlet.

Excelerate Energy ( EE ) did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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