Tag Archives | Kurdistan News

The latest news from Kurdistan – security updates, reconstruction and more – brought to you by Iraq Business News.

Iraqi Kurdistan 'Will to Achieve' Key to Success

By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. There is no secret behind the success of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region on the economic and service levels. The region endured, until 2003, extremely tough security and political circumstances that affected […]

Refinery Plans Raise Arab-Kurdish Tensions

By Bassem Francis, translated from Al-Hayat (Pan Arab) for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Justice and Reform Movement in Nineveh has refused to build an oil refinery in a region they see as being “occupied by Kurdistan and monopolized by […]

New Oil Find in Iraqi Kurdistan

Gulf Keystone notes today's update by MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc., the operator of the Akri-Bijeel Block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (in which Gulf Keystone has a 20 per cent working interest), on its extensive exploration and appraisal programme. Bakrman-1 Exploration Well Discovery Bakrman-1, the first exploration well to target the Bakrman […]

KRG President Barzani Begins Visit to Russia

President Masoud Barzani departed from Erbil International Airport on Tuesday with a high-level delegation to make his first official visit to the Russian Federation. During the visit, President Barzani is expected to meet senior Russian officials to discuss a number of important matters, including relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Russian Federation, political developments […]

Iraqi Kurdistan Shifts Investment Approach

By Abdel Hamid Zebari for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is preparing to change its investment approach to focus on new areas of foreign and local investment — including tourism, agriculture and industry — after […]

KRG Allocates Land for Permanent UK Consulate

Alistair Burt, the UK’s Foreign Office Minister responsible for the Middle East, on Thursday met President Masoud Barzani in Erbil. During his visit, an agreement was made to extend the British National School of Government’s training programme in Kurdistan, and the Kurdistan Regional Government allocated land for the British Consulate’s permanent residences. Minister Burt on […]

KRG's Hawrami Welcomes UK Energy Delegation

The UK’s leading trade association for oil and gas supplies and services on Thursday concluded its first mission to the Kurdistan Region. Dr Ashti Hawrami, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Minister of Natural Resources, met the delegation from the Energy Industries Council (EIC), which was accompanied by the British Consul General Hugh Evans. After their meeting […]

Cooperation Between Kurdistan and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland companies are being encouraged to take advantage of a bonanza of economic opportunities in the Middle East. Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster was speaking as she welcomed His Excellency Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to Northern Ireland, on a two-day trade and investment visit organised by Invest NI. Minister Foster […]

First Germany-Kurdistan Economic Forum

Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport, Building, and Urban Development, Peter Ramsauer, led a business delegation to Erbil to meet Kurdistan Regional Government officials and participate in the first Germany-Kurdistan Region economic forum. The German delegation met Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, who thanked them for their willingness to be part of the Kurdistan Region’s development process. […]

Turkey Encourages Investment in Iraqi Kurdistan

By John Lee. A senior Turkish government official has told the Hürriyet Daily News that the Turkish government will continue to encourage Turkish energy companies to sign more agreements with the Kurdistan Regional Government, despite what it describes as Washington’s warnings not to take such steps as they risk partitioning the country. "These are steps […]

Is Sima a Front for Trafigura in Iraq?

By John Lee. Four industry sources have told Reuters that Swiss oil trader Trafigura is still indirectly supplying gasoline to Iraq through another firm, despite being banned from participating in tenders for 2013 after buying oil from Iraqi Kurdistan. Baghdad's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) finalised a deal in November to buy 1.56 million tonnes […]

ShaMaran: Increased Contingent Resources at Atrush

ShaMaran Petroleum has announced an update of estimated contingent and prospective resources for the Atrush block provided by third party auditors McDaniel & Associates prepared as at December 31, 2012 in accordance with standards set out in the Canadian National Instrument NI 51-101 and Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (COGEH). McDaniel estimates have taken […]