Iraq earned more than $48 billion in revenue from crude oil exports in the first seven months of this year, Oil Minister Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi [Elaibi] has announced, according to Bloomberg. The country’s 2011 oil exports will exceed $80 billion and have already “helped the government ease the budget deficit and carry out several projects,” […]
Iraq's oil ministry said on Tuesday that it would unveil model contracts for oil and gas exploration blocks to pre-qualified international companies on 11th September, kicking off a process that will culminate with the award of contracts in January, according to a report from Platts. Iraq launched its first post-war exploration round in April, offering […]
Iraq's three main mobile phone companies - Zain Iraq, Asiacell and Korek - appear unlikely to meet a month-end deadline to list on the local stock exchange, raising the chances of them being penalised, according to Reuters. The companies are required by Iraqi law to launch initial public offerings on the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) by […]
The Iraqi Transport Ministry said on Wednesday that the designs for Grand al-Faw port will be ready in less than a year. AKnews reports that the statements said that all the necessary preparations have been made to initiate the construction of the port including the financial allocations and the technical and engineering staffing. Iraq announced […]
Reuters reports on Wednesday that Iraq has awarded a $472 million contract for an oil export facility expansion and sub-sea pipeline to the Italian group Saipem, a subsidiary of oil group Eni. Saipem will build a single point mooring buoy (SPM) with an export capacity of 900,000 barrels per day and construct a 50-kilometre pipeline […]
The Iraqi Communications Ministry announced on Tuesday that it will launch the fourth round of licensing for mobile phone companies next week. According to the report from AKnews, the licences will be granted next week but any agreements will have to be confirmed by the cabinet. A statement from Communications Minister, Mohammed Allawi, said that […]
Shares in DNO International closed up more than 11% on Wednesday after the company announced strong performance in the second quarter of 2011 with a working interest production of 48,582 barrels of oil per day (bopd), doubling of the reserves at the Tawke field and good financial performance. Sales recognized in the second quarter this […]
The UK's Middle East Association (MEA), in partnership with UK Trade & Investment, Invest Northern Ireland and the Kurdistan Regional Government, will be leading a Trade Delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan from 23rd to 28th October to coincide with the seventh Erbil International Trade Fair, Iraq’s largest general trade exhibition. Mission Participants will have the opportunity […]
Up until Monday, the past week was turning into one of the quietest so far this year, but then a series of mass casualty attacks swept the country, leaving dozens of people dead and injured. Provincial government buildings and security force installations and patrols were the most common targets of the attacks, although civilians were […]
Iraq’s oil wealth is massive, with significant economic potential for years to come. Unfortunately, development is being hampered by endemic violence and ongoing instability. However, the main reserves are not evenly distributed around the country and neither is the violence. By avoiding the violent hotspots companies can still make significant profits with minimal exposure to […]
Baker Hughes will drill 23 new wells in Iraq’s largest oil field, West Qurna 2, after signing a contract with Russia’s second largest oil company, Lukoil. Baker Hughes will use five rigs using advanced technology to drill the wells to a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, the statement said. "Drilling will begin in the fourth quarter of […]
According to this report from NIQASH, many believe the original Garden of Eden, as described in both the Koran and Bible, is located in Basra. Increasingly though climate change, water shortages and urban sprawl mean Basra’s farmers are coming to doubt that story. War and conflict have led to the loss of many farms and […]
