Excellent Opportunities, but the Door is Closing
The ExxonMobil controversy has dominated the business headlines in Iraq over the past week, and while it is very significant and politically sensitive situation, we should not allow it to distract us from the big picture -- the accelerating progress in development of the country. Three quotes from this week's 'Iraq: Untapped Opportunities' conference in […]
What Iraq can do to Encourage Business
At the 'Iraq: Untapped Opportunities' conference in London, Charles Hollis (pictured), Director General of the Middle East Association asked a panel of leading businessmen to make one suggestion each as to how Iraq can improve its development efforts. Hans Nijkamp, VP and Country Chairman for Iraq at Shell, said the authorities need to make a […]
FT Interviews KRG Natural Resources Minister
The Financial Times has interviewed the Natural Resources Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Dr Ashti Hawrami, about the future direction of the region's oil industry. Please click here to see the full video.
Baghdad Considers Action Against ExxonMobil
Dr Hussain al-Sharistani, Iraq’s deputy prime minister responsible for energy, told reporters in London that Baghdad is considering its action against ExxonMobil for "breaching the law" by entering into an exploration agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG): "ExxonMobil has written to the Iraqi Government about this, and they have received the response from the […]
Kurdistan Declines to Confirm Shell Contacts
At the 'Iraq: Untapped Opportunities' conference in London on Tuesday, Padraig O'Hannelly, for Iraq Business News, pressed the Chairman of the Kurdistan Board of Investment, H.E. Herish Muharam, on reports that the KRG had been in discussions with Shell: IBN: "Is it true that Shell was in discussions with Kurdistan relating to exploration contracts, and […]
Video: Exxon-KRG Deal Escalates Tensions
CNN's Arwa Damon brings this report from Kurdistan on the continuing struggle between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad's Ministry for Oil over the right to grant oil contracts in the Kurdish region. (Source: CNN)
Major New Guide to Business in Iraq
This morning saw the launch of a major new guide to business in Iraq: Entitled "The New Iraq: 2012 Discovering Business", it was launched simultaneously in Dubai and at the "Iraq: Untapped Opportunities" conference in London. Published by Allurentis, in association with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the guide containes a wealth of case studies, […]
Shell to Replace Exxon at West Qurna 1?
According to Dow Jones, the Iraqi oil ministry could ask Shell to develop Iraq's supergiant West Qurna Phase 1 oil field in southern Iraq, if the government decides to terminate ExxonMobil's contract after it signed a deal to explore for oil in Iraqi Kurdistan. "We have many options," said Abdul Mahdy al-Ameedi, head of the […]
32 Firms Buy Info-Packs for 4th Energy Round
Thirty-two international companies, including oil majors, have so far bought data packs for Iraq's 4th energy bidding round, according to Dow Jones. The Iraqi oil ministry has qualified 46 international companies to take part in the bid round, scheduled for March 7, in which 12 exploration blocks will be auctioned. The purchase of the data […]
WesternZagros Issues 3Q Results
WesternZagros Resources has issued its results for the periods ended September 30, 2011, key highlights, and activities to date. In September 2011, WesternZagros received approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government to start an extended well test at Sarqala. First oil production from Sarqala-1 was achieved on October 18, 2011, […]
ShaMaran Issues 3Q Results
ShaMaran Petroleum has announced its financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. Highlights A major oil discovery in the Atrush Block was announced by the Company on April 13, 2011. The Atrush 1 well flowed at rates totalling over 6,393 bopd of 26.5 API oil from three tests […]
Gulf Keystone Updates on Shaikan block
Gulf Keystone provided an update on Monday on its ongoing exploration and appraisal programme for the Shaikan block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Shaikan is a major discovery with independently audited gross oil-in-place volumes of between 8 billion barrels to 13.4 billion barrels calculated on the P90 to P10 basis with a mean value […]