Washington, Baghdad agree on need to Reopen Oil Pipeline

By John Lee. The United States and Iraq have agreed on the need for Iraq to become energy independent, and to quickly reopen the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline (ITP), which can transport oil from Northern Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. In an announcement following US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's call with […]

BP Signs Agreement for Kirkuk Oil Fields Development

By John Lee. BP has reached a contractual agreement with the Government of Iraq to invest in the rehabilitation and redevelopment of several giant oil fields in Kirkuk. The agreement, signed in Baghdad on Tuesday under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, encompasses oil, gas, power and water development, with potential for future […]

Int'l Finance Corp meets with Iraq's National Investment Commission

By John Lee. Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC) held a meeting on Monday with a delegation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, to discuss joint cooperation in: Technical advisory services, Project financing support, Business environment improvement, and Capacity-building through training and workshops. NIC's Director General of Relations and Media, […]

Increased Consultancy Contract for Basra Refinery Project

By John Lee. The Iraqi Council of Ministers has approved an increase in the consultancy contract amount for the Basra Refinery Development / Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Project with Japan's UNICO and France's Technip. The decision also includes an extension of the contract duration, granted as an exception to Government Contracting Instructions No. (2) of […]

Iraq to Sign Nuclear Energy Agreement with China

By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet has approved the authorization of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, who also serves as Chairman of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission, to negotiate and sign a cooperation agreement with China on the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with […]

Baghdad Reaffirms Full Compliance with OPEC+ Agreement

By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has reaffirmed its full commitment to the OPEC+ production agreement, including additional voluntary cuts and compensation for excess production. In a statemet on Monday, the Ministry will implement necessary measures to ensure compliance, including submitting an updated plan to offset previous overproduction. This commitment was reiterated during […]

Iraq's Real Estate Bank Outlines Strategic Plan for 2025

By John Lee. The Real Estate Bank of Iraq has unveiled its strategic plan for 2025, focusing on expanding financial services, digital transformation, and green financing. Director General Abbas Shihab Al-Jawahiri chaired a meeting with department heads, branch managers, and unit officials to review progress in 2024 and set priorities for 2025. According to a […]

Iraq Reports 22% Growth in Tax Revenues

By John Lee. Iraq's Higher Committee for Tax Reform has announced a 22-percent increase in tax revenues, reaching IQD 4 trillion [$3 billion] in 2024, as the country moves towards digitising its tax system to address name duplication issues and improve efficiency. According to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), Khalid Al-Jabri, a committee member, stated […]

Third Phase of Al-Rasheed Street Rehabilitation

By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a special meeting on Monday to review progress on the third phase of the Al-Rasheed Street rehabilitation project. The session included the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and representatives from the Iraqi Private Banks League (IPBL), reflecting the government's commitment to restoring Baghdad's […]

Iraq pushes EU to lift Ban on Iraqi Airways

By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani met on Sunday with a delegation from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), led by Kamel Al-Awadi, IATA's Vice President. The discussions focused on Iraq's ongoing efforts to end the European Union's airspace ban on Iraqi Airways, as well as the progress of the government's corrective […]

APIKUR calls for Written Sales and Lifting Agreements

By John Lee. The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR) has said its member companies are ready to restart oil exports from Iraqi Kurdistan once agreements are in place. In a statement on X, the association called for written sales and lifting agreements with Baghdad and Erbil ensuring payment transparency and protection from […]