IEA Prepares in-depth Outlook for Iraqi Energy Sector
In preparation for the World Energy Outlook (WEO) 2012 special report on the Iraq energy outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) held an informal one-day workshop in Istanbul, Turkey on 4 May 2012. The workshop was chaired by Dr. Fatih Birol, IEA Chief Economist, and had some 85 attendees, including His Excellency Thamir Ghadhban, Chairman […]
Philippines Lifts Ban on Overseas Workers in Kurdistan
The Philippine government has lifted the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Iraqi Kurdistan, according to ABS and AFP. In 2004 then-president Gloria Arroyo withdrew a contingent of Filipino police and soldiers assigned to the US-led coalition in Iraq after a Filipino truck driver was kidnapped and threatened with beheading. The […]
100 Unlicensed Iraqi Pharmacies Closed in April
AKnews reports that one hundred unlicensed pharmacies were shut down throughout Iraq in April, and four tons of out-of-date medicine were seized and destroyed. The Inspector General at the Health Ministry, Adel Muhsin, said the ministry closed the pharmacies for selling drugs that were unfit for human consumption and came from unknown factories and origins. […]
$100 million for Research and Development
Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education has allocated $104 million (122 billion Iraqi dinars) to research and development projects, according to a report from Aswat al-Iraq. Media Director Qassim Mohammed Jabbar said that research and development projects included the provision of scientific laboratories and financing research fellowships. (Source: Aswat al-Iraq)
Australia to Invest $2.5 billion in Iraqi Agriculture
Australia will make an initial investment of $2.5 billion in Iraq's agriculture sector, according to a report from AKnews. Lyndall Sachs (pictured), Australia's Ambassador to Iraq, made the statement during a joint press conference with Wasit Governor, Mahdi al-Zubaidi. The government will start with soil reclamation projects in Wasit, Dhi Qar, and Diwaniya provinces, and […]
Iraq Invites Bids for First Phase of Mega-Port
Iraq has issued a tender for the building of a breakwater to the south of Basra on the Persian Gulf, the first stage of construction of the giant $6 billion Grand Faw port scheme. The closing date for the tender is 15th July, and offers will be opened on 16th July, while interested companies are […]
Police Development Program Vital to US-Iraqi Relationship
Despite a New York Times report to the contrary, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the Department of State have no plans to shut down the Police Development Program (PDP) in Iraq that began in October 2011. According to U.S. Embassy Spokesman Michael McClellan, “The Iraqi Government and the State Department regularly review the size […]
Afren Updates on Kurdistan Operations
In its Interim Management Statement this morning, oil explorer Afren gave the following update on its operations in Iraqi Kurdistan: Barda Rash Having received all necessary approvals of the Field Development Plan (FDP) for Barda Rash during November 2011, the Company has commenced the development programme that will initially target approximately 500 million barrels of […]
Genel Energy Acquires Acreage in Kurdistan
In a step that further builds its resource base in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Genel Energy announced on Monday that it is to acquire a 23 per cent stake in the Bina Bawi exploration licence. The Bina Bawi licence lies alongside the producing Taq Taq oilfield where current potential output is some 80,000 barrels […]
Positioning Iraq on the World Energy Map
Iraq’s oil exports have reached the highest records in decades. Crude oil exports averaged 2.508 million bpd in April 2012 due to the opening of two new floating terminals, easing export constraints. The Iraq Petroleum 2012 Conference will address this recent increase in crude oil exports, in a key session titled ‘Positioning Iraq on the […]
Iraq Invites Firms to Manage Water Injection
Iraq has invited international consultancy firms to assist in managing the country's multi-billion dollar oilfield water injection projects. The scheme would assist in raising the extraction rates in order to stop declines in production at fields such as Majnoon, Zubair and Rumaila. Dhiya Jafaar, head of the state-run South Oil Company, told Reuters that the company […]
After Gas, and the Rise of the Petrochemical Industry
Iraq has ambitious plans to build on its booming energy sector. The sector will be used to build upon its petrochemicals industry, Iraq is looking to foreign firms to invest up to $35 – 50 billion from 2017 – 2023. During this period the plans aim to produce around 10 million tonnes of petrochemicals a […]