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 […]
WesternZagros Completes Successful Oil Test at Kurdamir-2
By John Lee. WesternZagros Resources has announced that it and the operator, Talisman, are preparing to complete the Kurdamir-2 well after successfully finishing an additional cased-hole test in the Oligocene Formation (DST#7). The test was conducted over a 24 metres thick interval between depths of 2,528 metres and 2,552 metres. It achieved a stabilized flow […]
Iraq "The Next Big Market" For Baker Hughes?
By John Lee. An article from Seeking Alpha speculates that Iraq could provide solid opportunities to oil field services firms like Baker Hughes, but points out that there are significant risks and issues that need to be addressed before international firms can participate wholeheartedly in this promising market. Baker Hughes has been making steady progress […]
Iraq Launches National Education Strategy
The Government of Iraq has launched a new national education strategy to improve access to quality education for Iraq’s 33 million citizens. “This is Iraq’s first ever national education strategy, which is unique in both Iraq and the region,” said Dr. Mohammed Ali Tamim, Iraq’s Minister of Education. “This strategy will respond to the needs […]
Iraq Completes $146m Baghdad Water Scheme
By John Lee. Iraq has completed a new $146-million project to supply drinking water to much of Baghdad's population. Saleh al-Mutlaq (pictured), deputy prime minister for service affairs, told Al-Shorfa: "The ministry of municipalities opened the Abu Ghraib Great Water Project ... It will provide drinking water to houses through modern networks, and will cover […]
Haiti Jumps Ahead of Iraq in Corruption Perceptions Index
By John Lee. Transparency International has said that Iraq maintained its position in the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). In the latest annual list, Libya was in 8th-last position, a ranking it shared last year with Haiti, which has improved its position by two places. From at total of 176 countries, Iraq came in at […]
UNAMI Welcomes Voter Registration
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler (pictured), has welcomed the beginning of the first voter registration update in three years as part of preparations for the forthcoming Governorate Council elections on 20 April 2013. “The opening of 891 Voter Registration Centres is an important step towards transparent […]
Vitol "Apologises" for Kurdish Oil Purchase
By John Lee. Reuters reports that top oil trader Vitol has apologised to the Iraqi government for buying Kurdish oil that was exported via Turkey without Baghdad's permission. Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul-Kareem Luaibi [Elaibi] said on in Vienna: "In terms of Vitol, they have cancelled the Kurdish amount and they apologised officially ... As for […]
STX Wins $150m Power Plant Order
By John Lee. South Korea's STX Heavy Industries has said it has won a $150-million order to construct and operate a power plant in Amara, in Missan province. Under the turnkey contract signed with Iraq's Ministry of Electricity, STX will take responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the plant for a year after its […]
New Contract Signed for Free Zone in Baghdad
By John Lee. The General Commission for Iraqi Free Zones (IFZ) has signed a contract to establish a special zone for commercial activities in accordance with the Free Zones law number 3 of 1998, reports to Aswat al-Iraq. IFZ director Saleh Saleh al-Qeissi [Sabah Saleh al-Qaisi] said: "The IFZ signed an investment contract with the Eaamar […]
60% of Parliament in Breach of Financial Disclosure Rules
By John Lee. Iraq's Commission on Integrity reports that Deputy Prime Minister Salih al-Mutlaq has still not complied with the country's financial disclosure requirements, despite that fact that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the other two of his three deputy Prime ministers have presented their financial disclosure statements to the Commission. President Jalal Talabani has also […]
New Iraqi Oil Prices for January
By John Lee. Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) has this morning adjusted its official selling prices for its Basra Light and Kirkuk crude grades for January. In common with some other countries, Iraq’s oil is priced relative to regional benchmark prices: For shipments to US, contracts are priced are relative to the Argus Sour […]