Weekly Security Update for 3rd May 2012
Levels of violence fell in Iraq last week following a spate of al-Qaeda attacks the previous week which killed dozens of people. Nonetheless, conditions were still relatively bad. At least 47 people were killed and 65 injured in nationwide incidents. Tactics A suicide bomber in Ba'qubah killed 10 people and injured 15 mid-week. Otherwise a […]
Press Freedom and Economic Development
In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3rd May to be World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), a day which, among other objectives, serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. According to UNESCO figures, since 2008 a total of 26 Iraqi media workers have been killed, […]
Iraq Hits New Oil Export Highs in April
Iraq's crude oil exports averaged 2.508 million bpd in April, the highest level in decades, the head of the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has announced. The figure was up 8.3 percent on March's 2.317 million bpd, Falah al-Amri told Bloomberg. Oil sales in April generated $8.8 billion in revenue from a total of 75.25 […]
Turkish Company wins $700m Deal to Revive Steel Plant
The Director General of Iraq's State Company for Iron and Steel has announced a deal with a Turkish company to rehabilitate its factory at the Khor al-Zubair complex, about 45km south of Basra, according to a report from Azzaman. The plant, which was built by a french company in the early 1970s, and was once […]
ABB Wins $16m Power Order from Mass Global
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth around $16 million from Mass Global Investment Company for the construction of a substation and SVC Light (static var compensator) system that will supply electricity to a new melt shop and steel rolling mill in northern Iraq. The order was received in […]
Coral Boutique Hotel to Open in Baghdad
Coral Hotels & Resorts, announced its plans to open Coral Boutique Hotel Baghdad in Iraq. The deluxe property will be operated by Coral under a management agreement with United Iraqi Trading Company. Situated in the heart of Baghdad in one of most prestigious avenues inJadriya area, the Coral Boutique Hotel Baghdad is merely 5 kilometers […]
Afren Bolsters Kurdistan Team
Afren plc announced on Wednesday several senior technical management appointments for its operations in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Appointment of Managing Director Afren MENA Afren announces the appointment of Mr David Kennedy as Managing Director Afren MENA, who will assume responsibility for Afren's operations in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, including the major Barda […]
Iraq to Buy New Trains
Iraq has reportedly asked several international companies to submit bids for the supply of 10 passenger trains. Bloomberg reports that France's Alstom, and China's Datong Electric Locomotive Company have been invited to submit bids, as have manufacturers in Turkey, Iran and Croatia. Jawad al-Kharsan, a spokesman for the national railway company, said the winning company […]
New Air Routes from Qatar to Iraq
Myanmar and Iraq are among the highlights of Qatar Airways' announcement of launch dates for new routes in the Middle East, Africa and Asia with capacity hikes being introduced to a number of other international destinations from the carrier's Doha hub. Speaking at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the Middle East's premier travel trade event taking […]
Genel Energy Increases Chia Surkh Stake to 60%
Genel Energy has issued the following update on its operations at the Chia Surkh block in Kurdistan: On 16 January 2012, Genel Energy plc ("Genel Energy") announced that it had entered into transactions with Forbes & Manhattan (Kurdistan) Inc. (a subsidiary of Longford Energy Inc.) ("F&M") and Petoil Petroleum to increase Genel Energy's interest in […]
DNO Almost Doubles Reserves, Publishes Annual Report
DNO International ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas company, today released its Annual Statement of Reserves setting total remaining proved and probable (2P/P50) reserves at 371.9 million barrels of oil equivalent on a working interest basis as of year-end 2011. The figure represents the Company's commercial reserves, class 1-3, under the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate classification […]
Heritage Oil Appoints Iraq Veteran as Non-Exec
Heritage Oil has announced the appointment of Colonel Mark Erwin (Retd.) as an independent Non-Executive Director of the Company with immediate effect. Mr. Erwin, aged 49, served in the United States Army for over 25 years culminating his career as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army Special Operations Command, which oversees all […]