Tag Archives | Kurdistan News

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

Abadi Reluctant to Lift Embargo on Kurdish Airports

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation in the Kurdistan Region reiterated that the Ministry has not received any formal approval from Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi to lift the ban on international flights from the airports in the region. Asked whether Baghdad was trying to delay resolving the issue with Erbil, Omed Mohammed said that […]

Iraq signs Deal for Kirkuk Refinery

By John Lee. Iraq's Oil Ministry has announced that it has signed an agreement to build a 70,000-bpd oil refinery near Kirkuk. The statement said the refinery would be built by "Rania international company", which Reuters refers to as Ranya International, which it says is based in Iraqi Kurdistan. The plant will produce high octane […]

DNO: Revenues and Investment Rise Sharply

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced a 50 percent hike in 2018 spending in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to USD 250 million net to the Company on the back of higher revenues and regular export payments. Annual 2017 revenues stood at USD 347 million, up 72 percent from 2016, bolstered […]

IFJ warns about Media Freedom Violations in Kurdistan

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has denounced the multiple media freedom violations in the Iraqi Kurdistan region documented in a new report by IFJ affiliate the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate. The 2017 annual report of media freedom violations, published by the KJS’ Committee for the Defense of Press Freedom & Rights of Journalists, reveals that […]

Baghdad "Stops" several Kurdish Landline Services

By John Lee. Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has reportedly ordered several Kurdish communication companies to stop providing landline services. According to a report from Rudaw, the CMC ordered that all companies licensed by them should cut communications with companies that are not licensed, including Fast Link, Newroz, Link Tech, Wego/7net-layer, Nawant, Kurdtel, Tishknet […]

Drought Threatens 1m Acres in Kurdistan

By John Lee. Nearly 1 million acres (400,000 hectares) of land in the Kurdistan Region have reportedly been rendered barren due to drought. Faruq Ali, Director of Crop Production at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water resources, told Rudaw: “Due to the lack of rainfall during this year’s plantation season, I predict that nearly 60 […]

Genel Energy Updates on Operations in Kurdistan

Genel Energy has issued a trading and operations update in advance of the Company's full-year 2017 results, which are scheduled for release on 22 March 2018. The information contained herein has not been audited and may be subject to further review. Murat Özgül, Chief Executive of Genel, said: "A strong final quarter of 2017 completed […]

Genel Energy gets more time for Gas Project

Genel Energy has announce that it has agreed with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) a 12 month extension to the schedule for satisfying the conditions precedent ('CPs') contained within the Gas Lifting Agreements ('GLA's) for the Bina Bawi and Miran fields signed in February 2017. The revised date by which the CPs are to be […]

New EU Strategy on Iraq

By John Lee. The European Union has adopted a new strategy on Iraq, following the joint communication by the High Representative and the Commission on elements for an EU strategy on Iraq adopted on 8 January 2018. Among other items, the EU called on the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to engage […]

GKP to Invest Further in Shaikan

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP), operator of the Shaikan Field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, is today providing an operational and corporate update. This is in advance of the Company's full year results for the period ended 31 December 2017 which are expected to be announced on Wednesday 11 April 2018. The information contained herein […]

Bina Bawi and Miran West gas resource update

Genel Energy has announced that RPS Energy Consultants, as part of its work on the updated competent person's reports ('CPRs') for the Bina Bawi and Miran West fields (Genel 100% and operator), has finalised its evaluation of the contingent gas resources at both assets: The RPS evaluation confirms a significant upgrade to the combined 2C […]

Chevron to Resume Drilling in Kurdistan

By John Lee. US-based Chevron plans to resume drilling at the Sarta 3 block in Iraqi Kurdistan. According to a report from Bloomberg, the company had temporarily halted exploration work in October after the Kurds voted in favour of independence. Chevron acquired Reliance Exploration & Production DMCC's 80 percent interest and operatorship of the production sharing contracts […]