IMF "to Agree Iraq Monitoring Program"
By John Lee. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to finalize an agreement with Iraq in the coming days for a program to monitor its economy. The fund's Middle East director, Masood Ahmed, told Reuters the program would establish a track record of effective performance from the Iraqi authorities which could lead to a […]
Progress Made in Degrading ISIL Oil Revenues
The coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has made significant progress in degrading the terrorists' ability to profit from their oil activities, a senior U.S. official said today. The coalition has targeted infrastructure, and trucks that transport the oil, the official said, speaking to reporters on background at the Pentagon. Oil […]
UK Committed to Long-Term Partnership with KRG
Senior KRG officials on Sunday discussed economic reform plans of the government and bilateral ties with Baroness Emma Nicholson, UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Iraq. The meeting was chaired by Minister Falah Mustafa, and he was joined by Dr. Ali Sindi Minister of Planing, Nawroz Mawlod Minister of Municipality and Tourism, Mawlod Bawa Murad […]
Oil Minister meets Japanese Delegation
By John Lee. Oil Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi [Adil Abd Al-Mahdi] met recently with a delegation from the Japanese companies Toyo and Mitsui. The meeting was attended by the deputies of the minister and the Directors General. Minister Mahdi confirmed that Iraq is keen to strengthen relations with major global companies, expand cooperation in the […]
Stirling Group Partners with EUIEC
By John Lee. UAE-based Stirling Group, a leading provider of HSE service, has partnered with the EU Iraq Energy Centre (EUIEC) to provide risk management training to the Iraqi oil and gas industry. The company will deliver a series of three day courses dealing with uncertainty and risk in the global energy sector from its […]
Oil Minister meets Deputy Head of Eni
By John Lee. Oil Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi [Adil Abd Al-Mahdi] has met the deputy head of the Italian company Eni, Mr. Labo Pasteli, and discussed cooperation in the oil industry. He said that Iraq is keen to strengthen the relations with companies such as Eni. Mr. Pasteli said that his company aims to increase […]
APR Energy Extends Basra Contract
By Simon Kent. APR Energy plc has announced that it has signed for an extension of its power generation contract in Iraq. The company run a gas fired power station that provides electricity for Iraq's southern port city of Basra. According to APR, the power plant has been in operation since 2012 and comprises six […]
Third NOC Official Assassinated
By Simon Kent. An official with the Iraqi North Oil Company has been shot dead in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, Reuters reports. The murder of Hassan Salim is the third assassination of an oil official from the NOC in just four months, in an area which has been disputed by Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen since the fall of the […]
Turkish Forces Move from Bashika
By Simon Kent. Turkish forces at the centre of a row that has ignited passions over Iraqi sovereignty, have moved from their base in the Iraqi Kurdish area of Bashika. However, the soldiers are apparently not being withdrawn from Iraqi territory but are being re-located, according to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defence. […]
15 Coalition Air Strikes Hit ISIS in Iraq
By Simon Kent. Aircraft from the US led Coalition in Iraq have attacked 15 targets in Iraq in the past 24 hrs, according to an official statement from the "Combined Joint Task Force," better known as the US led Coalition. As per recent waves of strikes, the latest attacks were centred on Ramadi, where an […]
Jordanian Truckers Lament Trebil Closure
By Simon Kent. Last Summer, the Jordanian government closed the Trebil border crossing with Iraq as fighters from the so called "Islamic State," also known as Daesh, took control of huge areas of Anbar in Iraq. Jordan's Ministry of Transport subsequently forbade truckers to transit into Iraq, causing over 300 million Jordanian Dinars worth of […]
US Kills ISIS "Finance Chief"
By Simon Kent. The US air force has eliminated Abu Saleh, the financial coordinator of ISIS (also known as Daesh) in an air strike at the end of November. US military spokesman Col. Steve Warren announced the strike, noting that Abu Saleh was "a legacy al Qaeda member." The strike was one of a series […]