The latest news from Kurdistan – security updates, reconstruction and more – brought to you by Iraq Business News.
By John Lee. Hilton Worldwide has announced expansion plans in Iraqi Kurdistan with the signing of a management agreement with the Mihtab Group to develop the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in the rapidly growing city of Erbil. The 300-room Hilton Erbil Hotel & Spa, which is expected to open in 2016, will be the […]
By John Lee. An Iraqi oil ministry statement on Tuesday said that Chevron, the second largest U.S. energy company, will be barred from contracts in central and southern Iraq as a result of buying stakes in two oil-exploration blocks in Iraqi Kurdistan. “Chevron is barred from any agreement or contract with the federal ministry of […]
By John Lee. The KRG's Ministry of Trade and Industry jointly has opened a Project Development Center in Ministry's headquarters. The center, established with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), is the first of its kind in the Kurdistan Region. According to a report from AKnews, Trade Minister Sinan Chalabi (pictured) said the […]
By John Lee. Two oil executives in the Kurdistan Region have told Reuters that Chevron is purchasing 80 percent of the Sarta and Rovi blocks from India's Reliance Industries. Austria's OMV holds the other 20 percent interest in Sarta/Rovi. Chevron reportedly declined to comment on Wednesday, saying that it continued to be interested in pursuing […]
By John Lee. Northern Ireland's Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster (pictured), has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kurdistan Regional Government, which will strengthen trade links and define areas of co-operation between the two regions. The MOU is the result of the Minister’s visit to Kurdistan in October 2011 when she met with […]
By John Lee. America's second-largest energy company, Chevron Corporation, may buy the rights to two oil exploration zones in Iraqi Kurdistan. According to a report from region from the Sunday Times in London, it would acquire the rights from Reliance Industries, India's largest private sector enterprise. The deal, which may be announced this week, is […]
By John Lee. Turkey has started importing the crude oil from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and will hold negotiations over direct sales to the natural gas. The Turkish Energy Minister said in a press conference on Friday that "Turkey has started importing five to ten trucks of crude oil per day from Kurdistan, and […]
By Shwan Zulal. This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The disputes between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan have led some local politicians to call for the semi-autonomous region to secede from Iraq and become its own […]
By John Lee. KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani this week announced that the foundation stone for Duhok International Airport will be laid within two months. The future airport will further strengthen tourism and trade links in Duhok, which is one of Iraq's most prosperous governorates. The premier’s news came in a statement also unveiling broader […]
By John Lee. The Australian-based company Oil Search Limited has reportedly suspended its activities in Iraqi Kurdistan due to an armed attack on the company’s work base in the Nawjul District in Kfri. According to the report from AKnews, the Director of the district, Wahab Ahmed, confirmed the incident and denied that it was linked […]
By Chris Bowers, British Consul General in Erbil. This article was originally published by Rudaw, and is re-published with permission by Iraq Business News. All good things have to come to an end. After one season short of two years, dear reader, I will be returning to London to spend more time with my family. […]
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday inaugurated the first electricity plant anywhere in Iraq to be converted to a combined cycle system. The conversion will increase the amount of electricity produced without using extra fuel to run the plant, to support the growing electricity needs of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Speaking at the […]
