Concern Grows Over Cholera Outbreak
By Simon Kent. Concern is mounting in Iraq following an outbreak of cholera which has caused at least 5000 cases since September, with many more suspected to have gone unreported. World Health Organization official Rana Sidani described the current crisis, noting that, "We expect an increase in the rate of infections [beyond] the officially declared […]
Row Over Paramilitary Salaries
By Simon Kent. Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi faces new political pressure over the payment of salaries for the 100,000 strong Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashd al-Shaabi, as they are known in Iraq. The Hashd al-Shaabi were formed last summer after a call from the holy figure Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, to defend […]
Ashti Hawrami: KRG Disguises Oil Shipments
By Simon Kent. In a striking admission of the policy of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami (pictured) has described the outcome of the political deadlock with Baghdad, which has led to secret oil exports by the KRG. Quoted in Reuters, Hawrami says that following former PM Nouri-al Maliki's blocking of the KRG […]
PM Abadi: Maysan is a Model Province
By Simon Kent. A recent piece about Basra in The Economist made an interesting point about Iraqi politics today, noting that while in Basra the provincial council suffers deep political divisions, the nearby province of Maysan has a spirit of cooperation under the much lauded, long time governor Ali Dawai Lazem. PM Abadi (pictured) seems to share this […]
Kurds Discover ISIS Tunnel Complex
By Simon Kent. Kurdish Peshmerga forces in newly liberated Sinjar, the Yazidi majority town en route to Mosul, have discovered an ISIS tunnel complex of fighting positions. The Wall Street Journal has documented the find in a photo essay report. Tunnel complexes have previously been used by ISIS in the battle of Jurf al Sakhar last year, […]
Iraqi Oil Selling for $30 Per Barrel
By Simon Kent. Traders in Europe have reported to Reuters that the Basra Light grade of crude is selling for $30 on the European market, as Iraq gains on Saudi Arabia as one of the main suppliers of oil to EU countries. Last year, Basra split its exports into Basra Light and Basra Heavy grades and […]
Bloom Delays Housing Project
By Simon Kent. Bloom Properties, subsidiary of Dubai based Abu Dhabi National Holding, has delayed construction of a 40,000 housing unit project in Karbala. The site, dubbed "Shores of Karbala" (pictured: plan of the site) was announced in 2013 with former PM Nouri al Maliki attending a ceremony to mark the signing of the contract, with […]
The Iraq Club, 9th December, Dubai: Speakers Announced
Advertising Feature The Iraq Club is a unique business-focussed networking event that showcases business leaders and experts, who have first-hand experience of operating in the Iraq energy market. At our next meeting, taking place in less than 3 weeks time, we have confirmed a fantastic line up of speakers, including: Simon Daman Willems, Managing Director, Basrah Gas Company Ben […]
Basra Plans World's Tallest Tower
By Simon Kent. Basra provincial council has reportedly hired international consultancy firm Mott MacDonald to finalise plans for a 3500ft, 240 floor building which would be host to business communities, residents and public entertainment. According to designers AMBS Architects, the "city in the sky" is designed to be an "antidote" to modern super towers in […]
US Strike Destroys 100 ISIS Fuel Tankers
By Simon Kent. A wave of US aircraft, including A-10 bombers which can fire thousands of exploding canon shells per minute, have destroyed 116 ISIS fuel tankers near the Iraqi border in Syria. The operation at Albu Kamal (the Iraqi side of the border is Al Qaim), code named Tidal Wave II, targeted a gathering […]
Jump in Iraqi Crude Exports to US
By Simon Kent. Iraqi crude exports to the US surged to 521,000 bpd for October, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA.) The increase in exports of Iraqi crude to the US marks a historic shift, since US imports of Iraqi crude actually decreased after 2003 despite the gradual increase in Iraqi production, with […]
Canada Changes Iraq Mission
By Simon Kent. Recently elected Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has announced a plan to increase the number of training personnel working with Kurdish Peshmerga in Northern Iraq. The number of Canadian advisers and trainers currently stands at 69. The announcement comes after Trudeau pledged to end Canadian air support to Iraqi forces fighting the so […]