Washington supports Baghdad's position regarding ExxonMobil's oil contracts with the Kurdistan Regional Government, according to reports from AKnews. Mahmoud Othman, a Representative from the Kurdish Blocs Coalition in the Iraqi Council of Representatives, told AKnews the measures the Iraqi government has taken towards Exxon are political and not economic. He said Baghdad believes this company […]
Russian news agency RBC Daily reports that Lukoil, Russia’s second-largest oil producer, is looking to expand its business in Iraq through buying part of ExxonMobil's 60% stake in the West Qurna 1 field. If the deal goes ahead Lukoil would hold 37.5% of the business. It is already in partnership with Norway's Statoil in the […]
This week the Palestinian Authority became the 22nd country to establish a diplomatic representation in the Kurdistan Region. The Consulate General will be headed by Ambassador Nazmi Hazouri, and will join the other countries that have already established a strong presence in the region with Consulate Generals. Ambassador Hazouri, who arrived in the region in […]
The President of Iraqi Kurdistan said on Wednesday that the region will go ahead with its exploration deal with U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil despite objections from Baghdad. According to Reuters, Masoud Barzani (pictured) said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was told of the deal prior to its signing and had no objection, and called […]
Representatives of Poland’s Malopolska Region on Monday in Erbil signed a Declaration of Cooperation with the Kurdistan Region. The agreement marks a significant step in relations between Poland and Kurdistan. The declaration was signed by Mr Marek Sowa, the Marshal of Poland’s Malopolska Region, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Trade and Industry […]
Barham Salih [Saleh], the Prime Minister of Kurdistan's Regional Government, said he expects 12 per cent growth in the region’s economy next year. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sulaimaniyah Trades Fair, Salih (pictured) praised the economic boom in the Kurdistan Region. “This city [Sulaimaniyah] used to be like a military camp, a war […]
Iraq's oil minister said on Sunday that Iraq will send ExxonMobil a further letter demanding an explanation of its contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) after receiving no response so far from the U.S. oil group, according to a report from Reuters. "So far we have sent Exxon three letters and tomorrow we will […]
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is embarking on a water supply and sewerage programme worth $910 million USD (1 billion IQD), according to AKnews. Samir Abdullah [Samir Abdullah Mustafa, Samir Akrawi], Minister of Municipalities and Tourism (pictured), told a press conference that the Goptapa-Chamchamal water project will supply drinking water for 300,000 people in central […]
The Financial Times has interviewed the Natural Resources Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Dr Ashti Hawrami, about the future direction of the region's oil industry. Please click here to see the full video.
CNN's Arwa Damon brings this report from Kurdistan on the continuing struggle between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad's Ministry for Oil over the right to grant oil contracts in the Kurdish region. (Source: CNN)
According to Dow Jones, the Iraqi oil ministry could ask Shell to develop Iraq's supergiant West Qurna Phase 1 oil field in southern Iraq, if the government decides to terminate ExxonMobil's contract after it signed a deal to explore for oil in Iraqi Kurdistan. "We have many options," said Abdul Mahdy al-Ameedi, head of the […]
To encourage investment in Iraqi Kurdistan, state authorities are able to gift land to important projects. However the process is plagued by corruption and injustice and has resulted in empty plots, unfinished projects and some undeservedly wealthy locals, according to this article from Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author and interviewee, and […]
