Tag Archives | Kurdistan News

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

Scotland can work with Kurdistan’s Aberdeen

By Tavish Scott, Member of the Scottish Parliament. This article was originally published by The Scotsman, and is re-published here with the author’s permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A familiar face walked across the hotel lobby. Former BP boss Tony […]

Iraq Again Demands Exxon Response on Oil Deal

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 […]

KRG to Launch Major Sanitation Programme

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 […]

Video: Exxon-KRG Deal Escalates Tensions

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)

Shell to Replace Exxon at West Qurna 1?

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 […]

KRG "Giving Out Land to Phantom Investors"

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 […]

Erbil Agro Trade Fair Opens Next Week

The fourth agro-food trade fair will open in Erbil next week with 350 companies from 21 countries coming to put their products on show. Aziz Ibrahim, director of trade in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s Ministry of Trade and Industry, told a news conference in Erbil on Thursday that there were new companies among the […]

Iraq to Act Against ExxonMobil over KRG Contract

In the continuing row over ExxonMobil's contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government, Baghdad has called the deal a violation of the law. Reuters reports that Iraq's government said it would move to end a major contract with ExxonMobil, apparently referring to the company's multi-billion dollar contract with Iraq's oil ministry to develop the 8.7 billion […]

Weekly Security Update for 17th November 2011

Last week saw a notable decline in attacks in Iraq, but incidents have worsened once again over the past three days. Activity was concentrated in the central provinces, although Baghdad itself remained unusually quiet until Sunday. Conditions now appear to be returning to an unfortunate level of normality. Roadside bombings are currently the most commonly […]

Heritage Oil Updates on Miran West

As part of its interim management statement, Heritage Oil plc has issued an update on its operations in Iraqi Kurdistan. : Heritage successfully completed testing of the Upper Cretaceous reservoir in the Miran West-3 well after drilling to a depth of 876 metres. During testing the maximum measured rate achieved from this reservoir section was […]

Afren Updates on Kurdistan Operations; Shares Rise

As part of its interim management statement, Afren plc has issued an update on its operations in Iraqi Kurdistan. The shares are up 11% since the statement: On 2nd November, the Company announced completion of the acquisition of a 60% operated interested interest in the Barda Rash PSC and 20% non-operated interest in the Ain […]

The Exxon Mobil Bombshell

The following article was published on Monday by Reidar Visser, an historian of Iraq educated at the University of Oxford and currently based at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. It is reproduced here with the author’s permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq […]