DLA Piper Advises on Zubair Free Zone
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 […]
Weekly Security Update
By Gary Sandiford, Olive Group’s Dubai based assessments manager. Olive Group is a leading provider of security and technology solutions and has operated continuously in Iraq since 2003. Overview Olive Groups Iraq statistics are drawn from multiple sources, including media reporting and direct liaison with in country assets. Included within the statistics are a […]
Kurdistan "Begins Oil Exports, Defying Baghdad"
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, […]
Min. of Oil Tenders for Joint Nassiriya Oilfield/Refinery Deal
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 […]
Microfinance Conference Focuses on Economic & Social Advancement
From October 23 - 24, 2012, the U.S. Mission in Iraq, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and in cooperation with the Iraqi Microfinance Network, will host the Inclusive Financial Services Stakeholders’ Conference at the Rotana Hotel in Erbil. The conference theme is “Iraqi Microfinance – The Path to Economic and Social Advancement”. […]
UK Delegation to Erbil Trade Fair
The Trade Development Director of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), Crispin Simon, led a large British delegation to the Erbil Trade Fair last week. Sixty-one British delegates, representing 39 companies from several key sectors, including education, participated in the Fair. The UK pavilion was the second largest of all the countries represented at the event. […]
Iraq Amnesty Could Set Killers Loose
By Laith Hammoudi. This article was originally published by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, iwpr.net, and it is reproduced by Iraq Business News with permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq’s parliament has postponed discussions on a controversial amnesty […]
Kurdistan to be Self-Sufficient in Oil Products
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 […]
Work to Start Soon on Kirkuk-Baiji Gas Pipeline
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 […]
Iraq Hires Indian Nurses to Plug Shortfall
By John Lee. The Times of India reports that dozens of Indian nurses have travelled to Iraq in recent days to plug a shortfall in its hospitals and healthcare facilities. Baghdad's Medical City hospital welcomed 35 Indian nurses, while another 31 arrived to work in Diwaniya. Information on hirings in other provinces was not available. […]
2013 Provincial Elections Planned for April – Or Are They?
By Mustafa Habib. This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Finally it looks like things are moving on for Iraq's provincial elections. A new management body has been elected and dates set. But there are still […]
Sterling Energy Rises on Interim Management Statement
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 […]