Shell Gas Deal Awaits Cabinet Approval
The contract for the giant Shell/Mitsubishi project to capture gas from Iraq's southern oilfields has taken a step closer to completion. Government Spokesman Dr Ali al-Dabbagh told Iraq Business News that Shell has agreed to the changes required by the oil ministry, and that the contract is now awaiting approval by Iraq's Cabinet. The project […]
What's Your Advice to Iraq?
If you're a regular reader of Iraq Business News, you'll know all about the huge opportunities in sectors such as oil and gas, mining, housing, and electricity. You'll also be aware of the sorts of challenges facing the country. But if you could change just three things about Iraq, what would they be? What three […]
GKP Seeks Buyer for Akri-Bijeel block
Gulf Keystone has announced that it plans to sell a stake in one of its oil blocks in Iraqi Kurdistan. In its half-year operational review, the company said it would seek a buyer for its 20 percent interest in the Akri-Bijeel block, which is estimated to hold around 2.4 billion barrels of oil, and which […]
BP, Iraq Differ On Costs Of Water Injection Project
Dow Jones reports that Iraq and BP have not yet reached agreement on reimbursement of costs to build a multi-billion-dollar oil field water injection scheme in southern Iraq. ExxonMobil was chosen to lead the project on behalf of foreign oil companies rehabilitating Iraqi oil fields. Nihad A. Moosa, head of the State Company for Oil […]
Iraq Awards Oil Export Project to Italy's Saipem
Italian firm Saipem, a subsidiary of oil group Eni, has been awarded a $469 million contract to expand oil export facilities in the southern port city of Basra, according to a report from AFP. The agency quotes government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh as saying that the company has to complete the project within two years of […]
Gulf Keystone Issues Operational Review
Gulf Keystone, whose shares are up 75% over the past six weeks, has issued its Operational Summary for the First Half of the year: Kurdistan Region of Iraq · 150% (P90) - 45% (P10) increase in gross oil in place numbers for the Shaikan discovery with a range of 4.9 billion (P90) to 10.8 billion (P10) barrels, following independent evaluation […]
Weekly Security Update for 14th September 2011
Levels of violence rose slightly in Iraq over the past week, with attacks concentrated in Baghdad and the districts surrounding it, as well as the two northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk. There was also a slight spike in activity around the town of Dujayl in Salah ad-Din province. While bombings around the country […]
Possible Mini-Auction for Nassiriyah Oilfield
Reuters reports that four international oil companies(IOCs) have shown an interest in developing the Nassiriyah oilfield in Iraq. A senior oil official said on Sunday that Iraq may hold a mini-auction for the largely undeveloped field, following a number of unsucessful attempts to reach agreement with foreign firms. Talks with a Japanese group led by […]
South Oil Company and BIC Discuss Investment
The chairman of the South Oil Company (SOC), Mr. Dhiaa Al- Mousawi, visited Basra Investment Commission (BIC) last week and met its new chairman Mr. Khalaf Al- Badran. They discussed the possible means of creating joint cooperation in order to reactivate the investment opportunities in a step to develop investment in Basra. The chairman of […]
Jordanian Companies in Kurdistan to Double by End-2011
The Kurdistan Regional Government's Minister of Trade, Sinan Chalaby [Chalabi], told AKnews that the number of Jordanian companies in Iraqi Kurdistan is expected to double by the end of the year. Currently 50 Jordanian companies do business in the Kuristan Region. According to Chalabi, this figure is expected to increase to 100 by the end […]
Turkish Businesses Invited to Tender for $7bn Power Deal
Turkish entrepreneurs have been invited to bid in a 6,000 megawatt electricity grid tender with a total value of $7 billion in northern Iraq, the Habertürk daily has reported. The tender for the construction of the grid is due to be open for bids on Thursday. According to the Turkish daily, the invitation to participate […]
Dr Ali al-Dabbagh Speaks with Iraq Business News
Minister Ali al-Dabbagh, Iraqi Government Spokesman, was interviewed by Padraig O'Hannelly for Iraq Business News at last week's Iraq Mining 2011 conference in London. In this first part of the interview, Dr al-Dabbagh discusses the controversial Mubarak port: Iraq Business News: Firstly, Dr Ali al-Dabbagh, thank you for agreeing to speak to us. I'd like […]