Oil & Gas Opec quotas force Iraq, Russia and Kazakhstan oil cuts Opec+ members that have failed to comply with output cuts, including Iraq, Russia and Kazakhstan, have agreed to reduce their production in the coming months to compensate for breaking agreed quotas. The combined overproduction from the three members totalled 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first half of the year, according to an […] July 25, 2024
Energy Gas flaring to end in next five years, says Iraq Iraq has confirmed it will halt all gas flaring activities in the next five years. Investment is being made through several projects in the southern region of Basra, where production capacities have been increased, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported, quoting the assistant director general for technical affairs for the Southern Gas Company, Majid Al-Shawaf. […] July 22, 2024
Transport UAE company in joint venture to build Baghdad metro A Malaysian engineering company and its UAE affiliate have jointly won a $316 million contract to oversee the construction of the new Baghdad metro. The building of the planned 148-kilometre network and its 64 stations across the Iraqi capital was slated to begin this month and end in 2029. This timeline might be delayed, however, […] July 19, 2024
Trade Iraq resumes talks to join World Trade Organization Iraq has resumed discussions to join the World Trade Organization, almost 20 years since first applying for membership. Negotiation teams from Iraq began preparatory meetings at the Geneva headquarters of the WTO this week. The country’s first application was submitted in 2004 with the creation of a working party, although there has been little movement […] July 18, 2024
Aviation Iraq given boost in plan to lift European flight ban Iraq has moved a step closer to returning its flag carrier to European skies after receiving the support of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Iraqi Airways was originally banned from Europe in 1991 due to safety concerns. Restrictions were briefly lifted in 2009 but enforced again in 2015 as the airline failed to meet […] July 17, 2024
Aviation Iraq signs deals to advance new civil airport project Iraq has signed two contracts for the construction of Nasiriyah International Airport in Southern Iraq. The Iraqi transport ministry this week signed an addendum to the construction contract with China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and the consulting contract with Turkey’s Kiklop Design Hertz Insaat, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported. The Turkish company will […] July 17, 2024
Aviation Iraqi Airways resumes direct flights to Beijing Iraqi Airways has resumed direct flights from Baghdad to Beijing, ending a hiatus that lasted several years, with hopes of increased business travel and tourism. The Ministry of Transport announced that the first flight departed from Baghdad International Airport in Iraq to Beijing Daxing International Airport in China this week. “In line with the directives […] July 10, 2024
Infrastructure Japan to increase investment in Iraq Japanese companies are set to expand their investments in Iraq, launching critical infrastructure projects to aid the country’s economic recovery and development. Futoshi Matsumoto, the Japanese ambassador, told Iraq state news agency that companies like Komatsu, a construction equipment supplier, are “eager” to enter the Iraqi market. A delegation from the company recently visited Basra, […] July 5, 2024
Oil & Gas Iran, Iraq and Libya among worst offenders on gas flaring Environmentally ruinous flaring of gas at upstream oil and gas facilities has risen to its highest level for five years, despite pledges to end the practice, the World Bank has said. Iran, Iraq and Libya were among the biggest contributors in 2023, according to a World Bank report published on June 20. Along with six […] June 25, 2024
Infrastructure US firm wins $46m contract to boost Iraq infrastructure US engineering giant KBR has won a five-year $46 million contract to support Iraq’s infrastructure development and future energy projects, including mega-projects. The company is expanding its presence in Iraq, establishing a new office in Baghdad and said it is also considering the creation of a design centre to enhance local engineering skills. Under the […] June 21, 2024
Energy UK company to work on Iraq’s $10bn gas project London-listed UK contractor John Wood Group, commonly known as Wood, has won a $46 million contract from French oil major TotalEnergies to build a gas development project in southern Iraq. The three-year contract entails front-end engineering design (Feed), detailed design, procurement support and construction and commissioning assistance for the first phase of the associated gas upstream […] June 13, 2024
Oil & Gas Deal for Iraq oil via Turkish pipeline coming ‘soon’ A deal is expected soon for Iraq to resume oil exports via a pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean coast. The Iraqi oil ministry, Kurdistan’s Ministry of Natural Resources and international oil companies met on Sunday in Baghdad to discuss resuming production and exports, said Iraq’s oil minister, Hayan Abdul Ghani. […] June 10, 2024
Real Estate Eagle Hills launches $1.5bn golf resort in Baghdad UAE developer Eagle Hills has revealed plans to build a mega mixed-use development in Iraq’s capital city. Abu Dhabi-based Eagle Hills has acquired land to develop the $1.5 billion Baghdad Golf Course and Spa, including an international golf course, high-end residential buildings, a five-star hotel and a resort club. “Baghdad is a city with a […] June 6, 2024
Energy Iraq plans oil exports via $17bn development road Iraq will undertake a new study to use its $17 billion development road from its southern region to Turkey to export oil and gas, prime minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani has said. The oil ministry will prepare a consultancy study to integrate its projects for transporting and exporting oil and gas through the Qatar- and UAE-backed […] June 5, 2024
Opinion Oil & Gas Opec+ – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it The rejigged meeting is likely to maintain the status quo in global crude markets May 27, 2024
Opinion Oil & Gas The fascinating complexity of China’s Middle East energy ties Saudi Aramco is seeking to anchor its position in the Chinese market, and particularly in petrochemicals May 20, 2024
Economy Falling oil prices deepen Iraq’s fiscal imbalances, says IMF Iraq’s fiscal imbalances have worsened due to significant fiscal expansion and lower oil prices, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “The ongoing fiscal expansion is expected to boost growth in 2024 at the expense of a further deterioration of fiscal and external accounts and Iraq’s vulnerability to oil price fluctuations,” the Washington-based fund said in […] May 17, 2024
Oil & Gas Chinese companies snap up Iraqi oil and gas blocks Iraq has awarded Chinese companies a large share of oil and gas exploration concessions as it attempts to boost its hydrocarbon reserves and attract investment. Opec’s second largest oil producer hopes to add 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil and nearly 3.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day. Out of 22 prequalified […] May 15, 2024
Renewable Energy Iraq forges ahead with plans for first big solar plant Iraq is proceeding with its first large-scale solar plant, which will be constructed by France’s TotalEnergies. The 1GW plant will be built in Basra, southern Iraq, as part of a $27 billion investment agreement for an integrated project that includes four oil, gas and renewables facilities. According to reports it will supply clean electricity equivalent […] May 9, 2024
Energy TotalEnergies targets 2025 for first phase of Iraq projects France’s TotalEnergies aims to complete the first phase of a solar power project and the initial phase of the associated gas project in Iraq in 2025, its chief executive Patrick Pouyanné has said. Pouyanné met with the Iraqi prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, the Iraqi […] April 29, 2024
Transport Gulf to collaborate on $17bn Suez Canal road and rail rival The $17 billion “Development Road” project is moving ahead after the UAE, Iraq, Qatar and Turkey signed a quadrilateral cooperation agreement. The road and rail collaboration aims to tie the Al-Faw Grand Port in Iraq’s oil-rich south to Turkey, thereby shortening travel time between Asia and Europe in a bid to rival the Suez Canal. […] April 23, 2024
Energy Iraq to auction 30 oil and gas projects this month Iraq will auction 30 new oil and gas projects in two licensing rounds before the end of April. The bidding round will be held on April 27, Reuters reported, citing an oil ministry statement. Last October Iraq passed a long-awaited oil and gas law, which will help the country attract more international investments into the hydrocarbon industry and boost government revenues. Ali Metwally, an […] April 19, 2024
