Tag Archives | Kurdistan News

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

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 […]

Sterling Energy to Pull Out of Kurdistan

Sterling Energy has announced that it is withdrawing from the Sangaw North Production Sharing Contract ("PSC") in Kurdistan. Shares in the company were trading down 3.3 percent on Friday morning: Interpretation of the 2D seismic data acquired in the Sangaw North PSC during 2012 has indicated that the remaining potential is insufficient to justify drilling […]

Iraqi Kurdistan Considers Lebanese Trade Ties

By John Lee. A business delegation from Iraqi Kurdistan considered strengthening economic ties with Lebanon’s second-biggest city Tripoli. “Iraqi Kurdistan is seeing an economic boom and we hope that Lebanese businessmen continue to benefit from facilities offered by the regional government,” head of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce Tawfik Daboussi said. Former Iraqi Trade Minister […]

Iraq Warns KRG Over Oil Exports to Turkey

By John Lee. Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi [Elaibi] has issued a stern warning to the KRG over their attempts to export large quantities of crude oil to Turkey, describing it as "a red line". "The Kurds are under obligation to ferry all the oil they produce to the national export systems," said the […]

Exxon Must Choose: Southern Iraq or Kurdistan

By John Lee. Iraq has again told Exxon Mobil that it must choose between working in its southern oilfields or in Kurdistan. Reuters reports that Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi [Elaibi] expects the company to make a final decision within a few days, adding: "We made it clear to Exxon in the last meeting that the […]

Chevron Awarded Stake in Qara Dagh

By John Lee. Iraqi Kurdistan's energy minister, Ashti Hawrami, is reported as saying that the KRG has awarded Chevron a stake in the Qara Dagh oil block (pictured). Jay Pryor, Chevron's Vice President for business development, met with Kurdistan President Mr Masoud Barzani at the World Economic Forum in Davos, reports Steel Guru. During the […]

Genel Completes Acquisition of Miran Block

By John Lee. Genel Energy has announced that closing has taken place on its acquisition of the remaining 49 per cent participating interest in the Miran exploration block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. On 12 November 2012, Genel Energy announced that Heritage Oil issued the Exchange Repayment Notice signifying its intention to repay the […]