US in ‘Wait and See’ Position After Iraq Election
The victory of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s party in Iraq’s recent election has put the United States in a wait-and-see position, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis told reporters yesterday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The secretary was in Colorado to preside at the change-of-command ceremony for North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. “History […]
Legislators call for Canceling Election Results
By Mustafa Saadoun for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Many Iraqi legislators call for canceling election results On May 21, a group of Iraqi parliament members submitted a request to the speaker to cancel the results of the May 12 […]
Mosul Dam Engineer may be Rescued
By John Lee. Reuters reports that Bain Capital Credit has been chosen for a 900-million-euro ($1.06 billion) deal to rescue the heavily-indebted Italian engineering firm Trevi. Among Trevi's current projects is the stabilisation of Iraq’s Mosul Dam. More here from Reuters. (Source: Reuters)
Can Sadr swing Nonsectarian Government?
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. After the Sairoon (On the Move) Alliance emerged victorious in the May 12 Iraqi elections, its leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, has been seeking meetings with the leaders of the other top-vote-getting alliances to discuss the possibility of forming the […]
Coalition Trainers in Iraq Helping ‘Make a Good Force Better’
Coalition Trainers in Iraq Helping ‘Make a Good Force Better’ The coalition training effort in Iraq is all about “making a good force better,” said Italian army Brig. Gen. Roberto Vannacci, the deputy commanding general for training for Operation Inherent Resolve's Joint Forces Land Component Command in Iraq. Iraqi security forces continue to press the […]
Market Review: Elections, the Economy and the Stock Market
By Ahmed Tabaqchali, CIO of Asia Frontier Capital (AFC) Iraq Fund. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Market Review: The Elections, the Economy and the Stock Market A key aspect of the Iraq investment opportunity is arbitraging the delta between real and […]
Rosneft Discovers Oil at Block 12
By John Lee. Bashneft, a subsidiary of Russia's Rosneft, has found oil at its Salman-1 exploratory well at Block 12 in Iraq. In a statement, the company said that an exploration well was successfully drilled to depth 4,277 metres; oil was found, "which gives grounds for expecting the discovery of industrial reserves". Rosneft said it […]
New Charges in Unaoil Investigation re $733m Contract
The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has brought further charges against two individuals facing trial in relation to the Unaoil investigation. Basil Al Jarah and Ziad Akle have both been charged with conspiracy to give corrupt payments to secure the award of a contract worth US$733 million to Leighton Contractors Singapore PTE Ltd for a […]
GKP receives New Payment from KRG
By John Lee. Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has confirmed that a gross payment of $18.8 million ($14.7 million net to GKP) has been received from the Kurdistan Regional Government for Shaikan crude oil sales during February 2018. (Source: GKP)
Ducorr completes Corrosion Protection work at Majnoon
By John Lee. Sharjah-based Ducorr has reportedly completed the design and deployment of a cathodic protection system for Shell’s Majnoon oil field. Construction Week Online quotes company sources as saying that the flowlines were buried in very corrosive soil, hence the need for protection. (Source: Construction Week Online)
HEESCO signs Contracts with 3 Int'l Firms
By John Lee. Iraq's Heavy Engineering Equipment State Company (HEESCO) has signed deals with three international companies in the oil, petrochemical and the marine industries: UK-based Weir Engineering Services; Czech-based KPS; Egyptian-based Petrojet. The company, established in 1963, has technological capabilities in the design, manufacturing and installation of the engineering equipment, such as the tanks, boilers, […]
Kuwait Energy may sell Block 9
By John Lee. Kuwait Energy has reportedly hired an investment bank to advise it on options that could include selling all or part of its Block 9 field in southern Iraq. Reuters says that Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) will assist in creating liquidity and a cash buffer to repay debt. Discussions on a possible merger […]