Iraq: Don't Mess it Up
Iraq is making progress. It is now pumping out 3 million barrels of oil per day for the first time since 1979, it is about to host the Arab League Summit, and its plan to build 2 million new homes is moving ahead. So why have shares in Iraq-focused oil shares taken a bashing this […]
The New Iraq – Discovering Business 2013
The 2013 edition of the definitive guide on doing business in Iraq, The New Iraq – Discovering Business, is underway. Produced by allurentis and in association with the National Investment Commission of Iraq and UK Trade and Investment, it provides a comprehensive framework on conducting business in Iraq and is an invaluable reference source for […]
USAID Success in Helping Iraqi Agribusiness
By Bob Nottelmann, crop production specialist with California Pacific Plant Exports (Cal Pacific) and Ekland Marketing of California (Emco). My colleague, Roy Ekland and I worked as short term technical advisers for the USAID Agribusiness project (Inma) in Iraq. As a result of our work and Inma's support, commercial strawberry production is now a lucrative […]
Iraq Oil Output Over 3m bpd for First Time in Decades
Iraq's oil production has risen above 3 million barrels per day for the first time in more than three decades, according to Reuters. "While I am talking to you today, the Iraqi oil production has exceeded 3 million barrels per day," Deputy Prime Minister Hussain Al Shahristani told a conference in Baghdad on Tuesday. "Loading […]
HSBC Analysts Review Iraqi Oil Valuations
Analysts at HSBC have reviewed on Monday the prospects for companies operating in the Iraqi oil sector, and issued new price targets: Afren: reduces its discounted-cash-flow-(DCF)-based target price to 175p from 179p, and maintains an overweight rating; Dana Gas: maintains an overweight rating and a sum-of-the-parts-(SOTP)-based target of AED 0.64; Genel Energy: initiates coverage with […]
Gulf Keystone Shares Slump on Kurdistan Worries
More than £1 billion ($1.6 billion) was wiped off the value of Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) during trading on Tuesday, as its share price fell by one third to 228.5p. Some of those losses have been recovered on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, with the shares currently changing hands at 275p. The falls were attrributed […]
Exxon to Decide Iraq Strategy in Days
ExxonMobil has reportedly asked the Iraqi central government to give it a few more days to decide whether or not it will cancel an exploration deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Baghdad has asked the U.S. giant to choose between the KRG deal and the existing contract with central-government to develop the 370,000 barrels-a-day […]
Iraqi Oil Official Flees after Accusation of Corruption
A departmental head at Iraq's South Oil Company (SOC) has reportedly fled the country after being accused of accepting bribes from a subsidiary of Australia's Leighton Holdings to help it secure contracts in southern Iraq. Uday Awad, a member of the Iraqi parliament's oil and energy committee, told The Australian that the head of the […]
Iraq to Nominate Thamar Ghadban to Lead OPEC
Iraq is expected to challenge the Saudi contender for the post of Secretary General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), according to a report from Middle East Oil & Gas. An Iraqi official told the Gulf Times: “Iraq is working to nominate Thamer Ghadban for this position”. Ghadban is currently the top energy adviser […]
Metito Awarded Multi-million Dollar Contract in Iraq
Cementing its position as the leading provider of total, intelligent water management solutions in emerging markets, Metito announces its latest project in Iraq worth more than $9m. "Iraq is striving to improve infrastructure across the whole country which will create interesting opportunities for the water sector", insisted Mustafa Hasan, General Manager of Metito Jordan, Iraq […]
Middle East Association on 10th Mission to Kurdistan
A leading British trade association last week visited the Kurdistan Region for the 10th time, helping to cement Kurdistan’s commercial ties with the UK. The 26-strong Middle East Association (MEA) trade mission met universities, government ministers and officials, and business organisations. Mr David Lloyd, the mission leader and Senior Consultant to the MEA, said, “This […]
The Budget Aftermath: Another Quasi-Decision in the Iraqi Parliament
The following article was published by Reidar Visser, an historian of Iraq educated at the University of Oxford and currently based at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. It is reproduced here with the author’s permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. […]