Hermes Datacommunications International Limited, a key specialist providing Wide Area Network communications to the upstream oil and gas industry has announced that they have received their trading license for Iraq. The Hermes Datacomms Iraq branch has been approved by the Republic of Iraq Ministry of Trade. By obtaining this license, Hermes Datacomms further secures its […]
Levels of violence rose in Iraq over the past week, particularly in Mosul and the central provinces. There was a rise in bomb attacks, a steady number of shootings and at least two injuries caused by indirect fire (rockets and mortars). At least one person was kidnapped in the north of the country. The head […]
The ExxonMobil controversy has dominated the business headlines in Iraq over the past week, and while it is very significant and politically sensitive situation, we should not allow it to distract us from the big picture -- the accelerating progress in development of the country. Three quotes from this week's 'Iraq: Untapped Opportunities' conference in […]
At the 'Iraq: Untapped Opportunities' conference in London, Charles Hollis (pictured), Director General of the Middle East Association asked a panel of leading businessmen to make one suggestion each as to how Iraq can improve its development efforts. Hans Nijkamp, VP and Country Chairman for Iraq at Shell, said the authorities need to make a […]
The Financial Times has interviewed the Natural Resources Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Dr Ashti Hawrami, about the future direction of the region's oil industry. Please click here to see the full video.
Dr Hussain al-Sharistani, Iraq’s deputy prime minister responsible for energy, told reporters in London that Baghdad is considering its action against ExxonMobil for "breaching the law" by entering into an exploration agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG): "ExxonMobil has written to the Iraqi Government about this, and they have received the response from the […]
At the 'Iraq: Untapped Opportunities' conference in London on Tuesday, Padraig O'Hannelly, for Iraq Business News, pressed the Chairman of the Kurdistan Board of Investment, H.E. Herish Muharam, on reports that the KRG had been in discussions with Shell: IBN: "Is it true that Shell was in discussions with Kurdistan relating to exploration contracts, and […]
CNN's Arwa Damon brings this report from Kurdistan on the continuing struggle between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad's Ministry for Oil over the right to grant oil contracts in the Kurdish region. (Source: CNN)
This morning saw the launch of a major new guide to business in Iraq: Entitled "The New Iraq: 2012 Discovering Business", it was launched simultaneously in Dubai and at the "Iraq: Untapped Opportunities" conference in London. Published by Allurentis, in association with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the guide containes a wealth of case studies, […]
According to Dow Jones, the Iraqi oil ministry could ask Shell to develop Iraq's supergiant West Qurna Phase 1 oil field in southern Iraq, if the government decides to terminate ExxonMobil's contract after it signed a deal to explore for oil in Iraqi Kurdistan. "We have many options," said Abdul Mahdy al-Ameedi, head of the […]
Thirty-two international companies, including oil majors, have so far bought data packs for Iraq's 4th energy bidding round, according to Dow Jones. The Iraqi oil ministry has qualified 46 international companies to take part in the bid round, scheduled for March 7, in which 12 exploration blocks will be auctioned. The purchase of the data […]
WesternZagros Resources has issued its results for the periods ended September 30, 2011, key highlights, and activities to date. In September 2011, WesternZagros received approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government to start an extended well test at Sarqala. First oil production from Sarqala-1 was achieved on October 18, 2011, […]
