Archive | 2011

Weekly Security Update for 5th October 2011

Levels of violence fell slightly in Iraq over the past week. There was a rise in the number of small arms attacks, mainly in Baghdad and the neighbouring province of Diyala. There was also a slight rise in the number of indirect fire attacks countrywide, which left two people dead (including a US soldier) and […]

English Translation of Draft Oil and Gas Law

The Iraq Energy Institute has translated the new draft hydrocarbon law into English. There are two versions provided: Compiled by the Parliamentarian Oil & Energy Committee, and presented to the Council of Representatives on 17th August 2011; Compiled by the Federal Ministry of Oil, and presented to the Council of Ministers on 25th August 2011. […]

New Refineries for Karbala and Maysan

The Iraqi Oil Ministry wants to build two new refineries in the provinces of Karbala [Kerbala] and Missan [Maysan], in order to reduce the country's dependency on foreign oil imports, according to AKnews. The one in Karbala will produce up to 140.000 barrels of fuel per day, the one in Missan up to 150,000. The […]

New Housing Opportunity in Baghdad

In conjunction with the Shiite Endowments Authority, the National Investment Commission (NIC) has announced an investment opportunity to construct a housing complex in Baghdad on the lot numbered 16/207 M4 - Kerada (total area of 60 donums). Investment license applications can be found on the One Stop Shop page of the NIC's website. Applications should […]

Iranian Company to Rehabilitate Iraq's Rail System

AKnews reports that an Iranian company called Waxon Park is going to invest in the Iraqi Republic Railways Company (IRR). Jawad al-Kharsani, spokesman for the Iraqi Transport Ministry, said that Waxon Park will first rehabilitate the factory in Samawa and then the railway system and rolling stock. "We have not yet outlined the final costs […]

Indian Company Presents Pipe Project in Basra

A delegation from the Indian company Jindal recentlty visited Basra Investment Commission and presented an industrial investment project to construct a plant for pipe production and coating. The assistant director of the company revealed that the investment capital of the project is 200 million dollars and that the project requires an area of 160 acres. […]

Luxury Retailer to Focus on Iraq

Paris Gallery, the Dubai-based luxury retailer, has scrapped plans to expand in Syria, Egypt and Lebanon, following the unrest in parts of the Middle East. Instead, the perfumes and cosmetics retailer will focus on economies it considers more stable, such as Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan and India. "We opened one store in Aleppo, but the process […]

President Barzani meets Austrian President

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Austria's President Heinz Fischer on Friday  in Vienna to discuss bilateral relations and mutual cooperation. In a very cordial meeting, President Barzani and President Fischer exchanged views on the current political situation in Iraq and in the Kurdistan Region, and the recent political developments in the Middle East. […]

Omnnea Represents Iraq at GITEX in Dubai

In a move to showcase Omnnea's Research and Development products, Omnnea will participate at GITEX 2011 in Dubai. Dr. Faisal Fadul, Omnnea's CEO, said: "We are proud to be the first Iraqi company to participate in this exhibit where we are given the opportunity to compete in the same arena as the best the world […]

Qatar's Woqod to Build Oil Infrastructure in Basra

The Qatari petroleum company, Woqod, has revealed a plan to invest in the oil sector through the construction of oil warehouses for logistic support to oil companies in Basra. The representative of the company, Mr. Khaleel Hassan, said during his meeting with the deputy chairman of Basra Investment Commission that his company has several similar […]

Conditions Improve in Iraq

Despite Monday’s deadly attack against a police facility in Anbar province, overall levels of violence declined in Iraq over recent months. At least 676 people were killed between July and September as a result of over 700 separate terrorist and militant attacks. This constituted an improvement from the second quarter of the year (April-June) when […]

Iraq's Oil and Gas Law Threatens Stability of Govt

Who controls the Iraqi oil fields that could make the nation one of the richest in the region? As political rivals squabble, that question could be one that topples the precariously balanced Iraqi government, according to this report from Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views […]