Author Archive | Editor

Premier Oil to Drill Block 12 in 2016/17

By John Lee. In its half-yearly results, Premier Oil gave the following update on its operations in Iraq: "In Iraq, work continues onshore Block 12, in which Premier was awarded a non-operated 30 per cent interest in November 2012. Block 12 is an 8,000 square kilometre block in the foreland of the Zagros fold belt, […]

Talisman to Sell Kurdamir Stake

By John Lee. Talisman Energy has said that it still plans to sell its oil properties in Iraqi Kurdistan, despite the recent declaration that its Kurdamir Block was commerical. Reuters reports that the Calgary-based company plans to look for buyers for its Kurdistan assets as it continues restructuring to cut debt and boost its flagging […]

Kurdamir Block Declared Commercial

By John Lee. WesternZagros Resources and its co-venturer, Talisman, have submitted a Declaration of Commercial Discovery ("DoC") to the Kurdistan Regional Government ("KRG") for the oil and gas discovery in the Kurdamir Block. A phased development plan, outlining future production wells, facilities and supporting infrastructure, is under preparation for submission to the KRG. Simon Hatfield […]

Charity Chairman Visits Front Line

The Chairman of the British-based AMAR International Charitable Foundation, Baroness (Emma) Nicholson of Winterbourne, met the man commanding Peshmerga forces in the Kurdish region of Iraq on Friday and was given a full briefing on the latest situation on the battle against ISIS. Baroness Nicholson has flown into Erbil to meet AMAR’s medical teams treating […]

UN Calls for Immediate Action on Amerli

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, is seriously alarmed by reports regarding the inhuman conditions of the inhabitants of the northern town of Amerli, besieged and cut off from food and water supplies by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) armed group for almost […]

Video: Militia wants Help from US

From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Mahdi Army fought US troops to the death in past years, but now some members of the rebranded Shiite militia say they could do with a little help from their old foe:

Video: Islamic State Shifts Tactics

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. In Northern Iraq, US airstrikes have hit targets held by the Islamic State group near Mosul Dam. But well-armed Islamic State fighters appear to be changing tactics slowing down the gains made by […]

LUKOIL Recovering Costs From West Qurna-2

The Sea Triumph, an oil carrier chartered by LITASCO (LUKOIL's international marketing and trading arm) has departed the port of Basra in Southern Iraq with the first batch of oil as part of the recovery of LUKOIL's costs from the West Qurna-2 project. The shipment volume amounts to 1 million barrels of oil. The vessel […]

Video: On Frontline with the Peshmerga

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq have regained control of several towns east of Mosul from the Islamic State group. The Peshmerga, backed by US air strikes, are fighting to retake the Mosul Dam, […]

UNHCR Launches Major Aid Push

The United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday that it is launching one of its largest humanitarian aid pushes in response to the deteriorating situation in Iraq, aiming to help close to a half million people who had been forced to flee their homes. Barring last minute delays, an air, road and sea operation will […]