Iraq's cabinet has ratified a deal with two foreign energy companies to develop the giant southern oilfield in Rumaila.

The contract with Britain's BP and CNPC of China is the first major deal with foreign firms to be signed since an international auction in June.

The project aims to almost triple output at the 17bn barrel field - increasing it by 2m barrels a day.

Iraq has the world's third largest oil reserves, but production lags behind potential due to a lack of investment.

The country's total daily output of 2.4m barrels is lower than it should be due to problems stemming from sanctions against former Iraqi governments, lack of investment and insurgent attacks, analysts say.

Bidders withdraw

Thirty two companies - including Shell, Exxon, BP and Total - bid for contracts to develop six oil fields and two gas fields in June's televised auction, Iraq's first big oil tender since the invasion of 2003.

Foreign companies remain wary of investing in Iraq's energy sector

But most of the bidders withdrew at the last moment, saying the terms on offer were unfavourable.

BP and CNPC agreed to run the Rumaila field - near the southern city of Basra - after US giant Exxon Mobil turned it down.

Iraq's oil ministry offered 20-year service contracts on the field, stipulating that companies would not be paid anything until a minimum level of production - close to the amount currently being produced - was reached.

Above that point, the companies would be paid a certain amount per barrel up to a maximum level stipulated by the ministry.

The maximum amount being offered by the ministry in the case of the Rumaila field was significantly less than the oil companies were asking for.

Exxon Mobil declined to accept the maximum payment, but BP and CNPC, which had originally asked for $4 a barrel, agreed to do the work for $2 a barrel.

They will also be able to charge the ministry for the costs of the work they have to do on the production facilities.

Questions over approval

Iraq's oil laws are still vague and many foreign companies remain wary of investing in Iraq's energy sector, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad.

The Iraqi government has urged the companies involved in June's auction to resubmit their bids.

But questions remain over who exactly has the authority to approve such contracts, our correspondent says. Many companies fear politics could get in the way of business, especially with parliamentary elections looming in January.

BP was thrown out of Iraq in 1972 when Saddam Hussein nationalized the oil industry.

The British company will hold a 38% stake in the venture, compared to CNPC's 37% share, while Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization will control the remaining 25%, the Associated Press reported.

The fields up for auction in June contained about 43bn barrels of Iraq's proven oil reserves of 115bn barrels.