Zero Tolerance for Corruption
By Padraig O'Hannelly. Before the local elections, an art student climbed the tallest building in central Baghdad and hung a banner depicting a giant eye, with the caption "We can see you", overlooking the Green Zone. It's an image that should be in the minds of all who consider bribery to be a perk of […]
Weekly Security Update 16 - 24 April 2013
By Tom Walker, Director, Assaye Risk COUNTRY OVERVIEW At least 235 people have died in a week marred by election violence and government brinkmanship, bringing the total number of fatalities this year to approx. 1541. The situation in Iraq remains tense as voters deal with the results of a disappointing election and an emboldened government […]
Rosneft Sets Sights on Iraq
By John Lee. Russian news agency RT reports that Rosneft is considering a joint venture with ExxonMobil in Iraq. Company President Igor Sechin (pictured) told reporters: "We will work with anyone who offers good terms, we'll work with ExxonMobil too." An Iraqi oil ministry delegation will visit Moscow on 10th May to discuss the deal. […]
Genel Converting Gas Pipeline to Carry Oil
By John Lee. Genel Energy has said it has made significant progress on getting a pipeline to reach the Turkish border. Conversion of a pipeline in the Kurdish region from natural gas to oil could be finished as early as the fourth quarter of this year, reports UPI. The company said it expects exports to […]
Lukoil Expects 150,000 bpd from West Qurna-2
By John Lee. Lukoil Chief Executive Officer Vagit Alekperov (pictured) has said that the Russian company expects to produce around 150,000 bpd of oil from the West Qurna-2 field by January: "The program of developing the oilfield infrastructure is proceeding according to schedule and work is ongoing at all the sites ... From 1st January […]
Video: Iraq to Investigate Killing of Protestors
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's government has said it will set up a commission to investigate the killing of at least 20 protesters by soldiers. On Tuesday, security forces raided a protest camp in the town of […]
Video: Kurdish Journalists Protest
From Iran’s PressTV. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Officials in Iraq's Kurdistan Region have been shown the yellow card - quite literally. The warning comes from Kurdish journalists who say violations against them must stop. Journalists voiced their demands outside Kurdistan's […]
Iraqi Kurdistan Open To Arab Investment
By Abdel Hamid Zebari for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Arab states no longer look at the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with suspicion and apprehension, especially after the regional capital, Erbil, was selected as the Arab Capital of Tourism for […]
Iraqi Contingency Plans for Syrian Dam Collapse
AFP reports that Iraq has prepared contingency plans in case a dam on the Euphrates river in northern Syria collapses. The 880-MW dam, in Raqa [Raqqah] province, fell under the control of Syrian rebels in February. It is known as the Al-Thawra [Tabqa] or "revolution" dam (pictured), and was build in 1973; it holds back Lake […]
Missan Oil Company Builds New Runway
The Missan Oil Company (MOC) has announced that it has finished building a 1,700-metre runway in the Halfaya area. It will be used to transport employees of companies like CNOOC and Petrochina to and from the international airport at Basra. Mr. Ali M. Al-Bahadli, the director general of the MOC, said the runway is 30 […]
Minister: Rehabilitating Industry will take Years
The Minister of Industry and Minerals, Ahmed al-Karbuli [Ahmad Nassir Al-Karbooli] (pictured) has said that the rehabilitation of the industry in Iraq is not an easy task and will require years to complete. He told AIN: "The Ministry of Industry is keen to rehabilitate factories which are already 70 percent renovated." (Source: AIN)
Russian Firm in Talks on Power Station
A state-owned Russian company is said to be in talks with Iraqi officials on the resumption of work at the Yusifiya power station of southern Baghdad. According to a report from AIN, a company identified as "Ross Tej" (sic) said: "The talks included the cooperation in the electric power sector and the possibility of resuming […]