BACTEC International Opens Office in Basra
BACTEC International Limited, one of the world’s leading Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Mine Action companies, announced the opening of its Basra office in January. The company’s head quarters are located in the UK with branches in Australia, Cambodia, Libya, Lao, Philippines and Mozambique. BACTEC also has an office in Sulaimani to support Kurdistan operations. BACTEC […]
Iraq to Double Refinery Capacity by 2020
Iraq plans to double refining capacity by 2020 to meet domestic demand and allow for exports, according to an article from Bloomberg. Iraq plans to increase its daily oil-processing capacity to 1.5 million barrels by the end of the decade from 750,000 barrels today, Iraqi Deputy Minister Ahmed al-Shamma told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. […]
JX Holdings to Develop Giant Nassiriya Oilfield?
There is a chance Iraq may hold one-on-one talks with a Japanese consortium led by JX Holdings to develop the giant Nassiriya oilfield, Iraq’s Deputy Oil Minister Ahmed al-Shamma said today, adding that a decision would depend on the policy of the new government in Baghdad. The comments came after the country's Deputy Prime Minister […]
Syria to Lift Visa Restrictions on Iraqis
Reuters reported on Tuesday that Syria has lifted visa restrictions on Iraqi nationals in a sign of improving ties between the two neighbours. Syria’s official news agency said a cabinet decision will make it possible from 1st February for any Iraqi to apply for a visa at the border, instead of from the Syrian embassy […]
Iraq Calls for Lifting of Philippine Travel Ban
Iraq's ambassador to the Philippines called on Tuesday for the Philippines to lift its travel ban to Iraq, saying Filipinos can benefit by taking part in the reconstruction of the war-damaged country. Ambassador Wadee Al-Batti was reacting to a recent reiteration by the Philippine government of a travel and workers' deployment ban to high-risk countries […]
Ex-CEO Fined for Bribery in Iraq
The former chief executive of a British chemical company has settled allegations that he approved illegal bribes to Iraq's Oil Ministry and government officials in Indonesia in the mid-2000s, according to the Wall Street Journal. Paul W. Jennings, former CEO of Innospec Inc., agreed to pay $229,000 to settle allegations that he violated the U.S. […]
Kurdistan Confirms Oil Export Agreement
Further to our report last week that oil exports from Iraqi Kurdistan will resume at the start of February, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has issued a statement confirming the agreement, and addressing the conflict with Baghdad over the budget. The full statement is shown below: Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Barham Salih (pictured) this week […]
France's Alstom to Head Baghdad Metro Project
Reuters reports that the French engineering group that has signed an outline agreement to build a metro line above Baghdad's streets is in fact Alstom. Shaker al-Zamili, the head of Baghdad Investment Commission, said on Thursday that Iraqi officials signed a memorandum of understanding with Alstom in France last week. An Alstom spokeswoman in Paris […]
UK 'to Issue 2-Yr Visas' for Kurdistan Businessmen
The spokesman for the Kurdistan Region’s investors said the UK government is planning to issue two-year visas for businessmen from Iraqi Kurdistan, adding that the British government also seeks to open a branch of its banks in the Region as well as introducing assurance [insurance] and consultancy companies. According to the report from AKnews, the […]
WesternZagros Updates Kurdistan Presentation
WesternZagros Resources, the natural resources company engaged in acquiring properties and exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas in Iraq, has updated its corporate presentation "to address the Company's significant prospective resources and its near term priorities". Highlights from the presentation were presented at the TD Newcrest 2011 Energy Conference in London, […]
Kirkuk Again Supplying Electricity to Grid
Iraq’s Kirkuk province resumed power supplies to the national grid on Friday, after a deal that ended a dispute this week over the provision of electricity. The oil-rich northern province that produces more electricity than it is allocated, announced on Monday that it would stop supplying power to the national network, a decision it implemented […]
Iraq May Open Subsidised State Supermarkets
The General Manager of the Iraqi Exhibitions Company said on Monday that the Trade Ministry is preparing a two-year investment plan for the reintroduction of Iraq’s subsidized state supermarkets. Sadiq Hussein Sultan told AKnews that the Trade ministry plans to invite investors to help reinstate the Central Markets Company, set up by the Iraqi government […]