By Padraig O'Hannelly. As we approach the tenth anniversary of the US-led invasion and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, there is much speculation about how the country and indeed the world would now look had Western powers not intervened. And while that speculation may be interesting, it can be no more than an educated […]
By Tom Walker, Director, Assaye Risk. (Please click on graphics to view.) COUNTRY OVERVIEW This week in Iraq has been somewhat calmer than the previous reporting period with a noted decrease in attack tempo. There were decreases in the number of civilian fatalities with a reported total of approx. 57 fatalities country wide […]
By Mark Simmonds, United Kingdom's FCO Minister for International Energy. Iraq is retaking its position at the energy top table. After decades of economic mismanagement and political repression, the country is emerging as one of the most important and dynamic global energy producers. Oil production has increased by over 50% in the last six years, […]
By John Lee. In its final results for the year ended 31st December 2012, oil and gas service provider Petrofac issued the following updates on its operations in Iraq: Badra oilfield development project, Iraq In February 2012, we were awarded a US$330 million lump-sum EPC contract by Gazprom for the first phase of the Badra […]
By John Lee. Iraq's state-owned airline has launched its first flight to Kuwait since the invasion of the country in 1990. Reuters reports that Iraq's foreign and transport ministers travelled on the Iraqi Airways flight on Wednesday, in what is viewed as a sign of improving relations between the two countries. In December, Kuwait's state-run […]
By John Lee. AUMA, the German-based manufacturer of electric actuators, actuator controls and valve gearboxes for the oil and gas industry, has won a $2-million order to supply more than 400-explosion proof actuators and gearboxes in Iraq. Working together with the Ministry of Oil's State Company for Oil Projects (SCOP), the company will supply actuators […]
BBC's Kirsty Wark presented a special edition of the Newsnight programme looking at how Iraq and the world changed following the war ten years ago. It includes contributions from former Prime Minister, Tony Blair; former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix; and Chair of the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC), Baroness Nicholson. The program can be […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Oil Ministry has said that insurgents have blown up the fuel pipeline from Baiji [Beiji, Bayji] refinery (pictured) in Salahaddin province to Nineveh province for the third time this month. The attack on the pipeline occurred at 11:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, and halted fuel supplies from Iraq’s largest refinery, […]
The UK's Middle East Association (MEA), in partnership with the Kurdistan Regional Government, will be leading a Trade Delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan from 28th April to 3rd May 2013, visiting Erbil and Duhok. The Kurdistan region remains one of the MEA’s major success stories. Last October we took another large UK trade delegation to the […]
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all but essential travel to Iraq given the security situation. Travel within Iraq remains dangerous. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated August 9, 2012, to update information on security incidents and to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Iraq, including kidnapping and […]
WesternZagros Resources has spudded the latest well of its extensive exploration and appraisal program in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Drilling began on the Kurdamir-3 appraisal well on the Kurdamir Block on February 22, 2013. 3D seismic surveys are also underway on both the Kurdamir and Garmian Blocks, and preparations are progressing for the three […]
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government is reported to have signed new agreements with Gazprom Neft, the oil-producing subsidiary of Russian gas monopoly Gazprom. "We are satisfied with Gazprom Neft's work in the region. New agreements have been reached with this Russian company in recent days," KRG President Masoud Barzani (pictured) was quoted as […]
