Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way
Governments have many responsibilities, but one of the main requirements of government is not to get in the way. If an economy is to grow, the administration must facilitate, or at the very least not hinder, people who are trying to create value, satisfy demand, and serve customers. But the new inspection regime at Iraqi […]
Telco IPOs a Bullish Sign
The mobile phone operators are finally getting their IPOs [initial public offerings - A company's first offering of common stock to the public] organized. Recently Asiacell and Zain began conversions to joint stock ownership. Zain is also reported to have engaged Citibank and BNP Paribas to work on valuation. So far as I know, Korek […]
Leighton Wins $523m Oil Transfer Contract
Iraq has awarded a $523 million [612 billion Iraqi dinar] contract to expand oil export facilities in the south of the country to Leighton Offshore, a subsidiary of Australian firm Leighton International, according to AFP. Leighton is the Australian unit of Germany construction group Hochtief. The project must be completed within 16 months and will […]
Heritage Oil Announces Successful Testing at Miran West-3 Well
Heritage Oil has announced that it has completed testing of the oil bearing Upper Cretaceous reservoir in the Miran West-3 well in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq ("Kurdistan"): Maximum flow rate achieved from the Upper Cretaceous reservoir was 1,950 bopd, restricted by surface equipment Confirmed gross in-place P50-P90 contingent volumes of 53-75 MMbbls of oil […]
Italian Minister Leads Delegation at Italian-Kurdistan Forum
Italy's Minister of Economic Development Paolo Romani this week led a trade delegation representing more than 50 companies to the Kurdistan Region to participate in a high profile business conference. Minister Romani’s visit to Kurdistan was part of a broader trip to Iraq, and was organised to coincide with the Italian-Kurdistan Region Business Forum and […]
Dutch Poised to Help Iraq Port Development
High-ranking officials from Iraq and the Netherlands have met to discuss Dutch participation in developing Iraq’s sea-ports, according to a report from Contstruction Weekly. Omran Radi, the director of the State Company of Iraq Ports and Yaron Rodenberg, the Dutch ambassador to Iraq, met this month to explore potential cooperation and work together to develop […]
Weekly Security Update for 5th October 2011
Levels of violence fell slightly in Iraq over the past week. There was a rise in the number of small arms attacks, mainly in Baghdad and the neighbouring province of Diyala. There was also a slight rise in the number of indirect fire attacks countrywide, which left two people dead (including a US soldier) and […]
English Translation of Draft Oil and Gas Law
The Iraq Energy Institute has translated the new draft hydrocarbon law into English. There are two versions provided: Compiled by the Parliamentarian Oil & Energy Committee, and presented to the Council of Representatives on 17th August 2011; Compiled by the Federal Ministry of Oil, and presented to the Council of Ministers on 25th August 2011. […]
New Refineries for Karbala and Maysan
The Iraqi Oil Ministry wants to build two new refineries in the provinces of Karbala [Kerbala] and Missan [Maysan], in order to reduce the country's dependency on foreign oil imports, according to AKnews. The one in Karbala will produce up to 140.000 barrels of fuel per day, the one in Missan up to 150,000. The […]
New Housing Opportunity in Baghdad
In conjunction with the Shiite Endowments Authority, the National Investment Commission (NIC) has announced an investment opportunity to construct a housing complex in Baghdad on the lot numbered 16/207 M4 - Kerada (total area of 60 donums). Investment license applications can be found on the One Stop Shop page of the NIC's website. Applications should […]
Iranian Company to Rehabilitate Iraq's Rail System
AKnews reports that an Iranian company called Waxon Park is going to invest in the Iraqi Republic Railways Company (IRR). Jawad al-Kharsani, spokesman for the Iraqi Transport Ministry, said that Waxon Park will first rehabilitate the factory in Samawa and then the railway system and rolling stock. "We have not yet outlined the final costs […]
Indian Company Presents Pipe Project in Basra
A delegation from the Indian company Jindal recentlty visited Basra Investment Commission and presented an industrial investment project to construct a plant for pipe production and coating. The assistant director of the company revealed that the investment capital of the project is 200 million dollars and that the project requires an area of 160 acres. […]