By John Lee.

National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) has awarded an irrigation project known as East Gharraf [Gharaf], reports The News.

A  spokesperson for the company said that Dr Mansoor Ahmad Hashmi, vice president of Water Resources Division at Nespak, will sign the agreement with the Ministry of Water Resources in Iraq by the end of this month.

The company will provide engineering consultancy services, including updating topographic survey data and detailed design of irrigation and drainage networks of the project area.

The project aims to providing sustainable irrigation and drainage facilities to about 390,000 acres of land in the areas of Nassiriya and Kut.

(Source: The News)

By Omar al-Shaher for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Iraq is to launch a satellite at the end of this year as part of a scientific project dedicated to monitoring desertification and water shortages, whose repercussions have cast a shadow over the country for years.

Last week, seven Iraqi ministries held a meeting to discuss procedures for launching and studying the economic feasibility of the project.

Deputy Minister of Communications Amir al-Bayati said:

“Members of the high commission for the satellite project, which consists of seven ministries, have discussed the launching mechanism of the project and its economic feasibility, in addition to a well-defined cooperation process between all concerned parties in order to avoid any roadblocks that might stand in the way of completing the project.”

Rafed al-Jabouri, the general coordinator of the project, said:

“Iraq will accomplish this project in cooperation with the Italian La Sapienza University and an Iraqi team of 15 researchers from three ministries, who underwent space training.”

Sources in the Ministry of Sciences and Technology — one of the ministries participating in the project — said that the cost of the project has reached $150 million.

AFP reports that Iraq has prepared contingency plans in case a dam on the Euphrates river in northern Syria collapses.

The 880-MW dam, in Raqa [Raqqah] province, fell under the control of Syrian rebels in February. It is known as the Al-Thawra [Tabqa] or “revolution” dam (pictured), and was build in 1973; it holds back Lake Assad, a 14.1 billion cubic metre man-made reservoir.

Ali Hashem, the head of Iraq’s national centre for managing water resources, told the news agency:

“We put plans in place to prevent the major damage that could be caused by such an incident …

“We have to be ready for these kinds of incidents. When we saw what is happening in Syria, we put our plans in place.“

The area surrounding the dam has largely been peaceful, and Hashem did not give specific details of the plans.

(Source: AFP)

By John Lee.

The KRG Minister of Municipalities and Tourism recently signed an agreement with ARGE Company; the ceremony was attended by Governor of Hawler, General Consul of Turkey in Hawler (Erbil), general director of water for Erbil province, the Mayor of Mergasor and the manager of implementing company.

Later in a press conference the Minister told the press:

“This project aims to end drinking water crises in 51 villages in the region for next 25 years … the project is part of the KRG budget, costing 96 billion dinars and in must be finished in 720 days.“

Nawzad Hadi, Governor of Erbil, said:

“It’s the duty of the Governorate and Ministry to provide water to citizens equally and everywhere in the province, but some villages have long-standing problems with their water networks. The company has good experience in solving such issues as they finished Mergasor water project successfully in recent times.“

(Source: Erbil Governorate)

Metito, a leader in intelligent water management solutions, has won a $6.8 million deal for a water treatment plant in Iraq.

The company has signed an agreement with F&B Investment for the design, build, selection and supply of all mechanical and electrical equipment for the wastewater treatment plant in south of Kufa, Iraq.

The project, initiated by Najaf Governorate, will serve the sewer and storm water treatment needs for the increasing population in the area and is designed to accommodate a capacity of 50,000 cu m/day, said a statement.

The project will utilise Turbo4bio, a new technology that guarantees a high energy-efficient wastewater treatment process with a small footprint. Turbo4bio (T4b) stands for ‘Turbo-Reactor for intense Biofilm production’ and it is suitable for treatment of municipal and low to medium load industrial wastewater, from which it produces a very high quality effluent with very low sludge production, close to zero.

The unique design features of the system provide the self-cleaning capability of the T4b-Turbo Reactor against any possible clogging, making it almost maintenance-free, it said.

Moustafa Hasan, general manager Metito Iraq, Jordan & Syria, said:

“The Iraqi government strives to improve the infrastructure across the country. The water and wastewater industry is growing rapidly and steadily in Iraq, reflecting the needs of the expanding urban areas and the increasing population.

“This is done without any compromise to the quality of deliverables required by the managing bodies, and Metito is therefore honoured to be partnering with F&B Investment in playing a role in the sustainable development of such an important and strategic country.“

(Source: TradeArabia)

By John Schnittker, Chief Economist at Schnittker Associates, and former Ministry Advisor at the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Iraq’s 2013 winter grain prospects appear to be good to excellent condition at this time. Late fall and early winter rains as well as irrigation supplies have been adequate to support increased plantings and good early growth of the critical wheat and barley crops. Satellite imagery and field reports also indicate a positive outlook from the principal growing provinces.

However, as harvest is still four months away, and with the bulk of the wheat and barley crops water requirements yet to be met, it is premature for Iraq to assume a bin busting crop. But the good condition of the crop and adequate soil moisture supplies have created the potential for Iraq’s best wheat and barley crops in many years.

Spring rains and irrigation water availability will ultimately determine if this year’s crop is a success. Irrigation water management during March and April will be especially important. A successful harvest is especially needed across the North where short crops and outright crop failures in recent years have seriously hurt the agricultural sector.

The northern provinces of Iraq and Kurdistan are heavily dependent upon winter rains, putting crop production in these areas at the mercy of mother-nature, while the remainder of Iraq is primarily irrigated.

Iraq’s irrigation water supplies for both the winter grain crop and spring and summer crops such as corn and rice are heavily dependent upon winter rain and snow that falls across Eastern Turkey; to date precipitation across this region has been somewhat spotty. However, there is still time for heavy widespread precipitation to fall before winter and spring storm systems disappear in mid to late April.

Fair weather is in the forecast for Iraq over the next 7-10 days, but after that the long-range weather models suggest a stormy period around the end of the month.

A bumper crop in 2013 could result in as much as an additional $250 million in farm receipts flowing through the rural economy. Farm income could also see a sharp increase, setting the stage for new investments in farm machinery and irrigation equipment. Politically, a big crop would increase stability in rural areas as increased crop receipts move through the rural economy, creating new jobs and giving credence that Iraq is meeting its ambitions to become more self-sufficient in food.

By John Lee.

An Iraqi Member of Parliament has accused Turkey of limiting the supply of water to Iraq for political reasons.

MP Karim Elewi of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee said Iraqi agriculture was being damaged by the shortage of the water amount coming from Turkey, and by governmental neglect for this important sector, which ranks after the oil sector in terms of revenue.

He told All Iraq News Agency (AIN):

“There are several factors that led to deteriorating the agricultural sector most notably the shortage of water amounts coming from Turkey where it is controlling the Iraqi water flow and using this topic for political aims … The amounts of waters coming from Turkey are inadequate and do not meet the need of the irrigation.

“At the same time, there is clear negligence by the Iraqi Government to this sector through not giving it priority as it represents vital resource for the Iraqi economy.“

(Source: AIN)

(Picture: Irrigation in Husseiniya, Karbala)

Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources has reportedly invited National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) to participate in an irrigation project.

The Express Tribune reports that the project, called “East Gharaf”, will provide sustainable irrigation and drainage facilities for about 390,000 acres of land in the general areas of Nassiriya and Kut.

State-owned NESPAK had worked on a number of irrigation projects in Iraq in early 1980s.

NESPAK was established in 1973 as a private limited company by the Government of Pakistan. It currently has a staff of 4207 employees, including 3096 highly qualified engineers, architects, planners, geologists, economists and other professionals.

(Sources: NESPAK, Express Tribune)