Iraq Business News brings you the latest information on developments and opportunities in the oil and gas industry in Iraq.
Deputy Premier for Energy Affairs Hussein al-Shahristani (pictured) has opened a new 250-MW, gas-fired power station in Karbala. Sharistani said that the government is working on electricity generating stations in Babel, Karbala and Anbar provinces, while another 250-MW station will be opened in Hilla in the coming days. Iraq recently announced that it also plans […]
DLA Piper, the global law firm, has advised on a major deal in Iraq, to create a specialised oil and gas free zone. The firm acted on behalf of Basra International Oil and Gas Hub (BIOGH) on a joint venture agreement with the Iraqi Free Zone Authority, a unit of the Ministry of Finance. The […]
By John Lee. Reuters reports that Kurdistan has begun shipping oil to international markets in independent export deals that some see as paving the way to greater Kurdish autonomy. The move is likely to further enrage the central government in Baghdad, but the involvement of two of the world's largest trading houses, Trafigura and Vitol, […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has announced the launch of the Nassiriya Integrated Project, and invited interested companies to become formally qualified to participate in its development. The project involves the integrated development of the more than 4-billion barrel Nassiriya oil field in Thi-Qar province together with the construction and operation of a […]
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government's Minister for Natural Resources, Ashti Hawrami (pictured), has announced that the Kurdish region will be self-sufficient in oil products next year. He expects an increase in Kurdistan refinery's production from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per day, resulting in a surplus of oil products. Hawrami also disclosed that there […]
By John Lee. Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad has told Aswat al-Iraq that Korea’s state-run Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) will soon begin work on the first stage of a new pipeline linking Kirkuk to Beiji [Bayji, Baiji]. According to the report, the $128-million project will bring dry and liquid gas from Kirkuk to Beiji, and […]
By John Lee. Shares in Sterling Energy were up more than 1% in early trading on Monday, following the publication of the company's interim management statement. Sterling made the following statement on operations in Iraqi Kurdistan: "The Company completed the acquisition of 117 km of 2D seismic data in the Sangaw North block in south […]
By John Lee. Reuters reports that bad weather has halted oil exports from Iraq's southern oilfields, with rough seas preventing tankers reaching port. The stoppage may continue through Tuesday, Iraqi oil port sources said on Sunday. "Because of bad weather oil exports have been completely stopped... Tankers cannot reach port because of rough seas and […]
By John Lee. Reuters reports that Iraq's crude oil exports from its southern ports have risen by 120,000 bpd so far in October compared to last month, suggesting the country is on course to reach its highest export rate in decades. According to shipping data, exports from Basra have averaged 2.30 million bpd in the […]
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The following is an extended version of my brief intervention delivered before IEA’ Energy Business Council virtual meeting held in Paris, 19th Oct 2012 on the Agency’s World Energy Outlook Special Report […]
By Thomas W Donovan, attorney at the Iraq Law Alliance. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Foreign "experts" like to depict Iraq's oil industry as a cesspit of corruption, turmoil and factional politics. In fact, however, Iraq has made real progress, and […]
ExxonMobil is in talks to sell its 60% stake in the massive West Qurna-1 oil field, while gearing up to start a controversial drilling program in Iraqi Kurdistan, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing what it described at "people familiar with the matter". Exxon's 2010 deal with the Iraqi central government to improve production in […]
