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Italy renews its commitment to stabilization with a new EUR 2 million contribution

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), has renewed its commitment to stabilizing Iraq with an additional EUR 2 million (approximately US$1.9 million) contribution. The generous contribution will be channeled through UNDP's flagship programme, the Funding Facility for Stabilization.

Italy has generously provided over US$20 million since the Facility was set up in 2015. The funding will be used to focus on rehabilitating public infrastructure and providing essential services to vulnerable communities living in areas affected by the ISIL conflict.

"The impact of our stabilization efforts with continuous support from the international partners such as Italy are visible across Iraq. Hospitals are reopening, clean water is reaching people's homes, and universities are welcoming students back. With this additional funding, UNDP will be able to continue to support the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in sectors such as electricity, water, education and health," says UNDP Resident Representative Zena Ali Ahmad.

"We are immensely grateful for Italy's continuous support to stabilization in Iraq. This new contribution will position the Facility to better meet the expectations and needs of the people of Iraq and contribute to improving conditions in the Liberated Areas paving the way for displaced Iraqis to return to their communities of origin safely and with dignity," adds Ms Ali Ahmad.

"Iraq is a priority country for Italy, both as a pivot of stability in the region and as a partner in development cooperation. Reconstruction and rehabilitation of facilities and infrastructure is critical to our common goal of ensuring a safe and stable environment for returnees to start rebuilding their lives. Italy has never left Iraq, through thick and thin. We, together with UNDP, stand by Iraqis and are eager to build a peaceful, prosperous and safe future for Iraq," states H.E. Maurizio Greganti, Ambassador of Italy to Iraq.

The Director of the Amman office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Dr. Emilio Cabasino, also highlights, "Through constant commitment in development cooperation, big achievements are possible. With this spirit, AICS collaboration in supporting the Funding Facility for Stabilization over the years has allowed reconstruction and returns. With this renewed contribution, it also supports the transition towards handover and new programming for development."

In mid-2015, UNDP established the Funding Facility for Stabilization to assist the Government in rebuilding Iraq after the ISIL conflict. The Facility works with the Government of Iraq and local actors to ensure safe, dignified and voluntary returns and to lay the foundation for reintegrating displaced populations into the community.

With the generous support of international partners, the Facility has mobilized over

US$ 1.55 billion from 29 donors and the Government of Iraq. This collective effort demonstrates the international community's solidarity with Iraq.

(Source: UN)

By John Lee.

The Iraqi parliament has given a vote of confidence to incoming Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani and his new cabinet.

A full listing of the new ministers, along with alternative spellings used by some sources, is shown below:

• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Fouad Hussein [Fuad Hussein]
• Vice President Cabinet and Minister of Oil, Mr. Hayan Abdul Ghani Abdul-Zahra [Hayyan Abdul Ghani; Hayan Abdulghani]
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Mr. Muhammad Tamim [Mohammed Ali Tamim]
• Minister of Finance, Ms. Taif Sami Mohammed [Al-Sitta Taif Sami]
• Minister of Defense, Mr. Thabet Muhammad Saeed al-Absi [Thabit Muhammad, Thabet Mohammed Saeed]
• Minister of Interior, Mr. Abdul-Amir Kamel al-Shamri [Abdul Amir Al-Shimmery, Abdul Amir Kamel]
• Minister of Health, Dr. Saleh Mahdi Mutalib [Salih Mahdi, Saleh Mehdi Mutalib]
• Minister of Industry and Minerals, Dr. Khaled Battal Najm [Khalid Battal, Khaled Battal Neg]
• Minister of Commerce (Trade), Mr. Atheer Daoud Salman [Athir Daowd Salman, Atheer Dawood Salman Al Ghurairi]
• Minister of Justice, Dr. Khaled Salam Saeed Shawani [Khalid Shawani, Khaled Salam Shwani]
• Minister of Electricity, Engineer Ziyad Ali Fadel [Ziad Ali Fadhil Sudani]
• Minister of Agriculture, Engineer Abbas Jabr Obada
• Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naim Abdel-Aboudi [Na'im Al-Abboudi, Naim Abed Yasser]
• Minister of Education, Dr. Ibrahim Namis Yassin
• Minister of Transport, Mr. Razak Muhaibis [Razzaq Muhaibis, Razak Muhaibes Ajimi]
• Minister of Communications. Dr. Hiam Abboud Kazem [Hoyam Abboud, Hiam Abboud Khadim]
• Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Aoun Diab Abdullah
• Minister of Labor and Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Jassem Saber Al-Asadi [Ahmed Jassim Saber]
• Minister of Immigration and Displaced Persons, Ms. Ivan Faeq Yaqoub [Ivan Faiq, Evan Faeq Yacoub]
• Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Hussein Al-Mubarqa [Ahmad Al-Mubarqa, Ahmed Mohamed Hussein]
• Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Ahmed Fakak Ahmed [Ahmad Fakkak Ahmad, Ahmed Fakkak Ahmed al-Badrawi]

(Sources: Iraqi Parliament, Al Monitor)

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Iraq is among the world's richest countries in energy, but that is doing little for the people who live there.

For decades, many have suffered because of power outages, and there is no easy solution.

Since 2003, Iraq has spent more than $80bn upgrading its power grid and restoring electricity supplies, but many Iraqis say they are not seeing the benefits.

Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem reports from Baghdad.

By John Lee.

Iran has said it will increase supplies of gas to Iraq.

At a meeting in Isfahan with senior officials of the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, the Director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Mohammad Reza Joulaei, confirmed the increase, adding, "our relationship with Iraq is a strategic relationship."

He said that the necessary technical and operational checks have been carried out, so there will be no problems to export the gas according to the agreement with Iraq.

(Source: Shana)

By John Lee.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and the Prime Minister of Jordan, Bisher Al-Khasawneh, have laid the foundation stone for the Iraqi-Jordanian electricity interconnector.

Al-Kadhimi said the project will help secure the exchange of energy between the two countries, and reflects the policy of openness and cooperation adopted by this government.

On the sidelines of the launch, the two sides held a meeting to discuss the development of regional cooperation, in light of the tripartite Baghdad summit last year between the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq.

(Source: Govt of Iraq)

The newly built Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment System in al-Qayrawan, Sinjar, has officially been opened with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ninewa Governorate.

The newly built water treatment system will provide uninterrupted access to clean drinking water to over 9,500 people living in central al-Qayrawan, Sinjar. The purpose-built facility can treat over 100 litres of water per person daily.

Before this, people living in al-Qayrawan did not have regular access to clean water. They would purchase water in tankers from private companies. The expense and uncertainty of transporting water by road resulted in increased prices and a lack of quality control. In addition, during the ISIL conflict, water supply from the tankers was regularly interrupted, leaving people without clean drinking water.

The Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment system is self-sustainable and built to purify and desalinate groundwater. The project included building three water treatment stations strategically distributed across central al-Qayrawan to reach all households. Each station has a well, reverse osmosis plant, dispensing tanks and spigots to produce over 20,000 litres of water every hour.

The project was implemented through USAID and UNDP's Funding Facility for Stabilization programme. Since 2015, USAID has contributed over US $400 million to the Facility, including over $10 million in Sinjar, making it the Facility's leading partner. To date, USAID has supported around 900 rehabilitation projects through the Facility, including ensuring services such as water, education, electricity and health are restored.

"The reopening of this water treatment system is an important milestone in the journey to rebuild Sinjar and recover from years of instability. Finding local and sustainable solutions such as this system is key to creating a safe and dignified environment for families choosing to return to Sinjar," says UNDP Resident Representative in Iraq, Zena Ali Ahmad.

"We would not be here today without the support of one of our founding partners, USAID. Together with USAID, we have made tremendous contributions to stabilization in Iraq. I would also like to recognize the strong partnership UNDP has with the federal government and local authorities, which enables us to implement such projects and ensure their sustainability," she adds.

UNDP is the leading implementer of stabilization activities in Iraq. To date, UNDP has completed over 3,300 stabilization projects across the liberated areas of Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa, and Salah al-Din. The programme has assisted 4.95 million internally displaced people to return home.

(Source: UNDP)

By John Lee.

GE Gas Power has signed an agreement with Taurus Arm, owner of the 500 megawatts (MW) Bazyan [Bazian] Power Plant, to provide parts, repairs, and services for two 9F.04 gas turbines at the facility for a period of 16 years.

The turbines were supplied by GE to Taurus Arm in 2021 under a fast-track project, where they were delivered to the site within months of notice to proceed. GE Digital will also provide its Asset Performance Management (APM) software to increase the reliability and availability of the units, decrease costs, and reduce operational risks.

Saiwan Salih, Board Member of Taurus Arm said:

"The Bazyan project is a critical facility that is located in the province of Sulaymaniyah and delivers much-needed electricity to the Kurdistan region, the Northern areas of Iraq including Mosul, Kirkuk, and Salahaldin, as well as other parts of Iraq.

"We are delighted to build upon the existing strong collaboration between Taurus Arm and GE to enable more secure performance of the plant, helping us to better serve the needs of the community."

Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE Gas Power Europe, Middle East, and Africa, said:

"Gas-fueled power generation continues to play an important role in meeting the growing energy needs of the Iraqi people and supporting the transition to a lower carbon future.

"Reliable operations at strategic facilities such as the Bazyan Power Plant are essential to sustain economic development efforts across the country.

"We are delighted to work with Taurus Arm on this essential project, thank them for their continued trust in us, and remain committed to delivering proven, industry-leading solutions to Iraq."

According to the press release, Taurus Arm has multiple offices around Iraq with over 1,500 people, combining financial, technical, and operational know-how in the oil and gas sectors.

(Source: GE)

From Rudaw. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Iraqi economic capital engulfed in trash, suffers from dilapidated electricity

Home to Iraq's richest oil wells, Basra should have wealth and development to rival the Emirates.

Instead, the southern province is one of Iraq's most impoverished - its residents deprived of even the most basic services and infrastructure.

Click here to read the full article.

UNHCR welcomes the generous contribution from the United States of America to support and strengthen critical assistance in Iraq

As the largest supporter of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Iraq, the United States of America (USA) recently contributed USD 27.8 million to help Syrian and other refugees and Iraq families displaced by Da'esh/ISIS (internally displaced persons/IDPs).

This generous contribution demonstrates the US's continuous commitment to help UNHCR address the most urgent humanitarian needs.

Five years after the defeat of ISIS and 11 years after the beginning of the Syria crisis, displaced populations and their host remain in need of support. Still in 2022, 1.2 million Iraqis have not been able to go back to their communities. Meanwhile, Iraq generously also hosts close to 300,000 refugees, most of whom are from Syria and live in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

The US's generous support allows UNHCR to promote the integration of refugees and displaced Iraqis, including those who have now returned to their home, into local communities and public services.

To do this, UNHCR is working, along with local partners and authorities on long-term support interventions such as the rehabilitation of schools, health care centres and water and electricity networks. These interventions aim to build the capacity of public institutions to deliver quality and accessible services to their own population and refugees.

UNHCR also seeks to promote community interactions and social cohesion through the creation of public spaces and community centres where mental health, especially for women and children survivors of violence, and legal services help them rebuild their lives, not least by acquiring identity documents.

In this respect, it is estimated that a quarter of IDPs lack civil documentation, as they lost them while fleeing violence and could not renew them in places controlled by ISIS. As a result, those lacking civil documentation face challenges accessing essential public services, as they cannot enrol their children in schools or access healthcare. They are also deprived of social safety nets and at risk of being arrested at checkpoints.

H.E. Alina L. Romanowski said:

"The United States remains committed to helping Iraq's most vulnerable populations. This contribution will help Iraqis displaced by ISIS reintegrate into their communities while also providing valuable support for education, health care, and other critical needs to Syrian refugees in Iraq."

UNHCR's Representative in Iraq, Jean Nicolas Beuze stated that,

"while the current situation in Iraq gradually stabilises and presents opportunities for prosperity, we need to continue working with the authorities in Baghdad and KRI to strengthen communities' resilience and self-reliance. The generous, flexible contribution of the US allows UNHCR to prioritize those most in need and to improve key public services in Iraq."

UNHCR is grateful for the generous and long-standing support of the United States of America to UNHCR. Since 2013, the US, through the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration of the State Department, has provided USD 484 million to the refugee response.

This support means that UNHCR can continue to offer protection and pursue durable solutions for internally displaced people and refugees in Iraq.

(Source: UN)

Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) cooperates with the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) to develop the Gulf electricity interconnection system and connect it to the southern Iraq network.

QFFD signed an agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority to develop the Gulf electricity interconnection system and to connect it to the southern Iraq network.

This agreement aims to contribute to cover part of the demand for electricity and fulfilling its need, as well as improving the performance and stability of the electricity network in the southern region of the Iraq Republic.

By constructing a new transformer substation with a capacity of about 400 KV in the Wafra area in Kuwait and connecting it to the Gulf electricity interconnection system to the Iraqi electricity network thorough Al-Faw electricity transformer station in southern Iraq.

On this occasion, His Excellency Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, said:

"Together, in partnership with he Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority, we seek to extend electricity to our brothers in southern Iraq. As electricity support will play a fundamental and pivotal role in strengthening the vital basic sectors and supporting them to complete Its work, such as the health sector, which will in turn provide health services to a large number of patients, in addition to strengthening the educational sector such as schools and universities. This initiative will have a pivotal role in the economic contribution and infrastructure development."

His Excellency the CEO of the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority, Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Ibrahim, that the electrical connection has achieved economic savings for the GCC countries of nearly 3 billion dollars since the full operation of the project, while avoiding any major interruptions in the Gulf networks since the start of operation in 2009, which has a significant impact on the continuity of electricity and its great impact on society and The economic and industrial sector in the GCC countries.

The project is being implemented by the GCC Electricity Interconnection Authority, which owns and manages the Gulf electrical interconnection network, and it is one of the most important infrastructure link projects approved by the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Among the benefits achieved by the project are reducing the required reserve in each country, mutual coverage in case of emergency, benefiting from the surplus, and reducing the cost of producing electric power among the GCC countries. Network connectivity operation.

The authority considers that the signing of the interconnection agreement with the electricity network in southern Iraq, which coincided recently with the Jeddah Summit for Security and Development on July 15, 2022, is one of the most important strategic projects in the GCC countries, which will start implementation work during the month of August, hoping to operate the connection with the summer of 2024.

It is worth noting that the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Project achieved its most important strategic objectives of enhancing energy security and raising the level of reliability and safety for the Gulf electrical systems, and its success in avoiding the GCC electricity networks for any partial or total interruption by 100% by providing instant support by transferring the required energy through the network The electrical connection directly, as more than (2,500) support cases have been supported since its operation.

(Source: Qatar Fund for Development)