AKnews reports that the Iraqi government has allocated $15 billion (17.3 trillion Iraqi dinars) for infrastructure projects in the proposed 2012 budget.

At the last budget meeting on 5th December, Baghdad set the budget at $100 billion (115.8 trillion IQD) with a deficit of $13.5 million.

Abdul-Hussein Abtan, a member of the House of Representatives Economy and Investment Committee, said that the budget has now been increased to $115 billion (133.2 trillion IQD).

He added that it is was also proposed that the $15 billion (17.3 trillion IQD) for infrastructure projects be given in the form of credit.

(Source: AKnews)

The Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works has announced that 12 British companies have agreed to build water purification plants in five Iraqi provinces, according to AKnews.

Jassim Mohammed, media adviser at the Ministry, told the news agency that the new plants will be in the provinces of Anbar, Diyala, Najaf, Dhi Qar and Basra.

He added that the Ministry is working to streamline the procedures for foreign companies working on service projects in the country.

Iraq experienced widespread protests throughout 2011 as people vented their anger at the poor provision of services such as drinking water.

(Source: AKnews)

(Picture: Nasiriyah Water Treatment Plant, by USACE)

A delegation from the Iranian Farast Group visited the Basra Investment Commission (BIC) and met its chairman, Khalaf Al-Badran.

They discussed the possibility of obtaining investment opportunities in various sectors, including housing and electricity.

The representative of the group, Ridha Mudhahari, said that his group includes 78 foreign and local specialized companies and that they have executed projects in a variety of countries.

Al-Badran explained to the delegation the duties of BIC and the facilities it provides to the investor, and said that there were many investment opportunities in the housing sector ready for investment.

(Source: Basra Investment Commission)

The Baghdad Company for Gas Turbines Ltd. has announced that it has won the contract to rehabilitate the Mullah Abdulla power plant in Baghdad.

The company’s managing Director, Mr. Mumtaz Rushdi, signed the deal for the 11units on Friday.

When completed later this year, the plant will provide more than 250 MW of power.

(Source: Baghdad Company for Gas Turbines)

Iraqi health authorities have decided to build 18 hospitals throughout the country with an total budget of US$2 billion, according to a report from AKnews.

Adil Mohsen, General Inspector at the Health Ministry, told AKnews that the majority of the hospitals will have at least 100 beds and will be constructed according to international standards.

There are 321 public and private hospitals in Iraq with a total medical staff of 25,000. On Sunday, the Ministry said the country needed some 7,000 anesthetists.

Mohsen said among the hospitals will be “specialized hospitals for heart disease, nervous system, burns, and maternity.”

The Ministry of Health announced earlier this month that its 2012 budget exceeds US$6 billion. The Ministry said it will sue the money to build 150 clinics, contracting with more doctors including Indian medical practitioners.

(Source: AKnews)

Egypt’s foreign minister, Karmel Amro [Mohamed Kamel Amr], will lead a delegation of power companies to Iraq to discuss the formation of an Iraqi-Egyptian company to rebuild Iraq’s power grid.

AKnews reports that the the delegation will visit Baghdad in the last week of January.

Hassan Najem, representing a coalition of Egyptian power companies, said that another delegation will visit Iraq on Tuesday to register a number of Egyptian companies with the Iraqi government. This will allow them to sign electricity infrastructure projects Baghdad is putting out to tender.

(Source: AKnews)

AKnews reports that up to 26 foreign companies are engaged in preparations to build a 500 MW power plant in Kirkuk.

Kirkuk currently requires 880 MW, but can only provide 450 MW: 240 MW from the national grid and 225 MW through a contract with Kurdish investor.

Rebwar Talabani, the Deputy head of Kirkuk Provincial Council, told AKnews that American, British, Turkish and Arab companies are building the 500 MW plant the Council approved last year.

The location for the project will be decided in coordination with the power distribution and transportation offices.

A small new power plant was built in December in the Darman village area of Kirkuk.

(Source: AKnews)

Reuters reports that Iraq has signed a $235-million electricity deal with a subsidiary of Turkey’s Enka Insaat to install a 500-megawatt power plant in the Al-Najibiya district of Basra.

The company will install four General Electric (GE) gas units, each with a capacity of 125 megawatts, within the next 16 months, said electricity minister Karim Aftan.

The green-field project will by financed by the local government of Basra.

(Source: Reuters)