Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has discussed Iraq's relations with the United Nations and its assistance mission in Iraq (UNAMI) with Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the UNAMI activities in Iraq and the Iraqi government's keenness on facilitating UNAMI's work. The Minister expressed the government's appreciation for […]
Archive | 2013
China to Open Consulate in Erbil
The People's Republic of China is expected to open its first diplomatic mission in the Kurdistan Region by the end of this year. Currently there are 27 foreign and diplomatic representations in Erbil, including four of the five permanent United Nations Security Council members. The opening of a consulate-general was discussed at a meeting today […]
More Firms Pre-Approved for Nassiriya Bid
By John Lee. Iraq has selected five additional international oil companies to bid for the development of its $4.4-billion Nassiriya oil field and the construction of a new 300,000 bpd refinery, reports Reuters. The companies added to the list are: France's Maurel et Prom; Russia's Rosneft; Essar UAE India; South Korea's GS Engineering & Construction […]
Tags: Essar, France, GS E&C, korea, Maurel et Prom, Nassiriya Integrated Project, ONGC, Rosneft, Russia, UAE
Blast at Umm Qasr Commodities Port
By John Lee. Reuters reports that an unexplained blast occurred at Umm Qasr commodities port on Saturday. It was not immediately what the cause of the blast was, or whether it had affected imports and exports. The port does not handle crude oil shipments. (Source: Reuters)
Tags: Umm Qasr, Umm Qasr Port
ShaMaran Petroleum Announces Results
By John Lee. ShaMaran Petroleum has announce its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013. (Unless otherwise stated all currency amounts indicated as "$" in this news release are expressed in thousands of United States dollars). Highlights A Field Development Plan for the Atrush Block was submitted for […]
Dialogue on Contentious Oil Issues in Iraq
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Mr Jiyad is an independent development consultant, scholar and Associate with Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES), London. He was formerly a senior economist with the Iraq National Oil Company and Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, Chief Expert for the Council of Ministers, Director at the Ministry of Trade, and International Specialist […]
Tags: Ahmed Mousa Jiyad, Chapter 7, Chapter VII, EITI, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Integrated National Energy Strategy (INES)
Video: Syrian Refugees Flood into Iraq
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The United Nations says thousands of Syrian refugees are flooding into the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq. Fighting in Northern Syria has increased in recent months between Al Qaeda linked rebels and armed […]
Iraq Finally gets Senate
By Mustafa Habib. This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Baghdad may soon get its own version of a US Senate as MPs attempt to decentralize power further. A law is in the making to form […]
ERW Removed from Village in Kirkuk
Some 1,189 hazardous items (explosive remnants of war - ERW) have been removed from the village of Chimany Ferqa Kirkuk by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG). Among the items destroyed were 78 anti-tank landmines (pictured), 307 anti-personnel landmines, 114 trip flares and 690 small arms ammunition. MAG teams came to the village after an anti-tank […]
Swedish Ambassador Visits Kurdistan
The Swedish Ambassador to Iraq, Jörgen Lindström, met with Minister Falah Mustafa today to follow up on recent developments in Kurdistan and in the greater region. Sweden currently has a Section Office established in Erbil as well as representation from the Swedish Trade Council. Sweden continues to be one of Iraq’s largest European trading partners […]
Rebuilding Bridges to Iraq's Jewish Heritage
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Iraqi elite see the issue of Iraq's Jews in two ways: Nostalgia about a beautiful past, and a continuing tragedy of forced displacement which is not over yet. Although the expulsion […]
Tags: Iraqi Jews, Israel
Iraq Rules Out Special Oil Price for India
By John Lee. Iraq has ruled out offering any special oil price to India because its laws don't allow it to do so, reports the Economic Times. "Our laws do not allow us to offer any special pricing to anyone. We can sell crude only at the existing market- determined prices," Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister […]