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Agreement to Support Displaced Iraqis in Kerbala

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kerbala Governorate in Central Iraq to enhance cooperation on migration management and emergency response activities. IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Thomas Lothar Weiss, and the Governor of Kerbala, Aqeel Omran Al-Turahi, signed the MoU in a ceremony at the governorate administrative […]

Anbar Residents take Refuge in Ramadi

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Dozens of Iraqi refugees from the Bo-Nimir tribe, from the IS-controlled Anbar province, take shelter in makeshift homes in Ramadi, in northern Baghdad, as they wait for an opportunity to go back home:

Iraq Trebles Size of Gold Reserves

By John Lee. A report released this morning by the World Gold Council says that Iraq's Central Bank bought 48 tonnes of gold during 2014, trebling the size of its gold reserves over the year. Fortification and diversification of reserves, namely away from the US dollar, continues to be the driving force behind this activity, […]

Blessings in Disguise for Iraqi Stock Market

By John Lee. The continuing war against the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL), coupled with the decline in oil prices, have reportedly made Iraqi regulators and government more receptive to reforms that would strengthen the economy and the stock market, according to an article in UAE-based The National. Shwan Taha, head of Rabee Securities, has […]

Oryx Updates on Hawler Oilfield

By John Lee. Oryx Petroleum Corporation has announced an update regarding production, sales and development activities for the Hawler license area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (“KRI”). Highlights: Gross (100%) oil production: - December 2014 average of 3,900 bbl/d with a daily peak of approximately 8,500 bbl - January 2015 average of 3,100 bbl/d […]

Hayward Predicts Lower Prices and Growth

By John Lee. Genel Energy chief executive Tony Hayward said on Tuesday that Iraq's output of crude oil would grow much more slowly than many expect. He told a conference in London that the world has entered a new era of lower oil prices, which would not recover to the $110 a barrel level in […]

Unpaid Oil Companies "Reconsider Investments"

By John Lee. Anadolu Agency reports that international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Iraqi Kurdistan are reconsidering their investments as they have not yet been paid by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) recently suspended crude oil exports by truck from Iraqi Kurdistan, and was reported in November as saying that it […]

Video: Battling ISIL with Comedy and Art

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The armed group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS, IS) has been running an ambitious propaganda campaign that includes social media and lots of recruitment videos tailored to different cultures […]

Currency Auction Results, 10th Feb

By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has reported that 19 banks took part in its currency auction on Wednesday. A total of $93,035,000 was sold  at a price of 1166 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) per dollar. (Source: Central Bank of Iraq)

Broker Tips Petroceltic

By John Lee. Shares in Petroceltic plc were trading up nearly 4 percent on Tuesday, following a positive note from a London-based broker. Peel Hunt analyst James Carmichael claims that near-term drilling in Iraqi Kurdistan could significantly increase Petroceltic’s resource base. Proactiveinvestors says the broker has a ‘buy’ recommendation and a 202p price target for […]

New Tank Farm to Stabilize Oil Exports

By John Lee. Oil Minister Dr. Adel Abdul Mahdi [Adel Abdel Mehdi] has announced a plan to build new oil storage tanks to help smooth oil production during bad weather. Iraq's exports were restricted in January due to bad weather in the Gulf. (Source: AIN) (Oil tanks image via Shutterstock)