IMF Approves 7-Mth Extension of Stand-By Arrangement
By John Lee. The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a seven-month extension of Iraq’s Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), to February 23, 2013. The SBA had been scheduled to expire on July 23, 2012. The extension, which had been requested by the Iraqi authorities, will provide them with time to implement the […]
Iraqi Firm to Build 500 Residential Units in Karbala
By John Lee. An Iraqi firm is to carry out the first big residential project in eastern Karbala, at a cost of $63 million (76 billion Iraqi dinars). Abbas Nasser Hassani head of the reconstruction and strategic planning committee of the Karbala council, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency: "An Iraqi firm was awarded the license […]
UN Concerned over Delay in New Electoral Board
By John Lee. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler (pictured), has expressed his concern over the delay in selecting the new Board of Commissioners of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). "Any further postponement in appointing the new Commissioners would pose a serious threat to the democratic process in […]
Russian Business Delegation Visits Anbar
By John Lee. A Russian business delegation has visited the city of Ramadi to investigate investment opportunities in Anbar province. Saadoun Obeid al-Shaalan, head of the provincial council, told NINA news agency: "The delegation represents a group of leading Russian companies specialized in the manufacture of large power stations, the production and distribution of electricity, […]
Zubair Free Zone Signs 2 Investment Contracts
By John Lee. Two contracts have been signed with a company from the United Arab Emirates to invest in the Zubair Free Zone, according to a report from Aswat al-Iraq. AIN names the company as "Oren Hidrocker Pons", and says it is a specialist in the chemical industry. One project is described as "commercial", the […]
Iraq Oil Revenues up $1bn in July
Iraq’s oil revenues jumped by about $1 billion from June to July, according reports from AFP and Aswat al-Iraq. Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said Iraq earned $7.535 billion from 77.915 million barrels exported in July at an average price of $96.599 per barrel, compared to June’s revenues of $6.453 billion at $90.097 per barrel. […]
KRG to Halt Oil Exports if Baghdad Doesn’t Pay
Just days after agreeing to re-start oil exports from the Kurdistan region, Ashti Hawrami (pictured), the KRG's Minister of Natural Resources, said the region would halt oil exports at the end of the month if Baghdad does not make all outstanding payments to companies working in the oil sector in the region by that time. […]
Genel Energy Increases Stake in Bina Bawi
Genel Energy has announced that it has agreed to acquire an additional 21 per cent interest in the Bina Bawi exploration block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from Hawler Energy Ltd for $240 million, to be paid from the Company's existing cash resources. The Transaction is in addition to the Company's acquisition of an […]
You Can't Fix Stupid: The Iraqi Dinar Scam
By John Lee. In a recent article on Forbes magazine website, legal expert and anti-scam campaigner Jay Adkisson challenges the idea that vast wealth will be made from a dramatic appreciation of the Iraqi dinar, saying, "You can't fix stupid". "Scams involving the arbitrage of foreign currencies have been around as long as there have […]
Blast Knocks Out Kirkuk-Ceyhan Pipeline
By John Lee. Reuters reports that the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline was bombed on Sunday night, knocking out flows. Officials from the Turkish Energy Ministry said on Monday that repairs could take up to 10 days. The blast occurred in Mardin province, north of Turkey's border with Syria. The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was behind the […]
Iraq to Buy Russian Air Defences
By John Lee. Reuters reports that Iraq's acting Minister for Defence, Sadoun al-Dulaimi (Sadun al-Dulaymi) (pictured), has been in Russia to negotiate the purchase of air surveillance equipment. Hakim al-Zamili, a member of the parlimantary security and defence committee, told the news agency: "There is a delegation, headed by the minister of defence and the commander […]
KRG Forms Cmte for Foreign Workers in Kurdistan
By John Lee. The KRG is to form a committee to lay down the mechanism for foreign workers to apply for work in the Kurdistan Region, according to AKnews. Abbas Akram, press secretary for Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, said the committee is intended to help to secure the rights of the foreign workers […]