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Iraq to Export Electricity Next Year?

Iraq's electricity problem could be solved by the end of the 2013, according to Iraq's deputy prime-minister with responsibility for energy. Husain al-Shahristani (pictured) told local reporters, “this year power output will reach 9,000 megawatts and skyrocket to 20,000 megawatts in 2013”. AKnews reports that he made the remarks as he inaugurated a new 400MW […]

Halfaya On Stream 15 Mths Ahead of Schedule

State-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) says the first phase of Iraq's Halfaya oilfield has started operating at 100,000 bpd, 15 months ahead of schedule. The company says it has already started preliminary work on the second phase of development at the field, which will bring the capacity to 200,000 bpd. Iraq signed a 20-year […]

Iraq’s Fourth Bid Round: Assessment Of The Outcome

By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. After many postponements, Iraq’s fourth bid round took place on 30-31 May 2012. Twelve exploration blocks were offered, but only three were awarded. With two-thirds of the offered blocks receiving no bid, […]

100 Dutch Companies Consider Kurdistan

Following a visit by a delegation  of Dutch companies to Kurdistan last week, AKnews reports that about 100 Dutch companies have expressed an interest in working in the region for the first time. The companies attended an economic forum promoting the Kurdistan Region and looking at prospects for Dutch investors. Azad Ahmed, from the Chamber […]

British Furniture Store finds Business in Iraq

A businessman from Bolton in UK, Asad Shamim, of Furniture In Fashion, says that the local companies must strike the emerging markets of Iraq, as it is said to start a major rebuilding program. Quick to see an opening, the entrepreneur has already sold £60,000 [$96,000] worth of furniture to a new hotel in the […]

Iraq's Core Inflation Slows

Trade Arabia reports that Iraq's core inflation slowed to 6.2 per cent in May, down from 6.7 per cent in April. The fall was due to a drop in the costs of food and housing said Mudher Kasim, deputy governor of the central bank. In April, the country saw high annual inflation mainly due to […]

New KRG Representation Opens in Vienna

The Kurdistan Regional Government's Head of Foreign Relations officially opened a new Representation Office in Vienna on Saturday, making it the 13th KRG representation office abroad. At the same time, Austria's Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister announced that Austria also plans to open a representation office in Erbil as well. Minister Falah Mustafa opened the […]

16 Italian Effers for Iraq

Italian loader crane manufacturer Effer has won an order to supply 16 Effer model 440 4S cranes to Iraq's Ministry of Transport. The presentation of the first units took place at Effer's plant in Minerbio, Italy. The units were installed on Iveco trucks ordered by the Machine Technology Trading Company (MTT), headquartered in Baghdad. MTT […]

Kurdistan Bans Import of More Vegetables

The KRG's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources had decided to ban the importation of more vegetables and fruit in order to boost the local production, reports AKnews. From the beginning of July it will impose the ban on sunflower seeds, watermelon, melon and eggplant, said Nuri Ismael, loan and marketing director at the Ministry. […]

Iraq to Relax Terms for Gas Exploration Rights

Bloomberg reports that Iraq is to offer more attractive terms in its next auction of exploration rights for natural gas. Oil Minister Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi [Elaibi] (pictured), told the agency in an interview: “Bidding will be next year, but we will start now to prepare the data package, and we will hold a roadshow for […]

Change of UK Ambassador to Iraq

Mr Simon Paul Collis has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq. He will succeed Mr Michael Aron who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Collis will take up his appointment at the end of June 2012. Mr Collis joined the FCO in 1978 and after studying Arabic has […]