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. NewsletterGet the Best of AGBI delivered straight to your inbox every week NewsletterGet the Best of AGBI delivered straight to your inbox every week Last October Iraq passed a long-awaited […] April 19, 2024
Analysis Banking & Finance Iraq shapes up as a destination for UAE investors Emirati investors may be increasingly tempted to look at Iraq after additional safeguards are introduced under a new bilateral investment treaty, observers believe. The treaty between Iraq and the UAE was signed in October 2021 and ratified by both states last year. All that is left now is for the instruments of ratification to be […] April 18, 2024
Infrastructure Iraq and Kuwait team up for European telecom corridor Iraq’s Informatics and Telecommunication Public Company, a division of the Ministry of Communications, has signed an agreement with Kuwait’s Zajil Telecom to create a telecommunications corridor from the Gulf region to Europe, transiting through Iraq and Turkey. The new route will pass through Iraqi sea and land ports. Iraq’s minister of communications Hayam Al-Yasiri said […] April 14, 2024
Infrastructure UAE to develop Iraq’s port and economic zone Iraq’s Al-Faw Grand Port and its economic zone will receive an investment boost with the backing of a UAE state-backed entity. Abu Dhabi Ports Group has signed a preliminary agreement with the General Company for Ports of Iraq, state-run Wam news agency said. The entities will establish a joint venture to develop the Al-Faw Grand […] April 4, 2024
Employment Saudi Arabia will pay costs of normalising migrants’ status Saudi Arabia said this week it will take on the costs of normalising the status of displaced individuals from neighbouring countries in what could amount to amnesty for thousands of illegal migrants and refugees. “The state assumes the costs on behalf of individuals permitted to stay and rectify their status among the displaced from neighbouring […] April 3, 2024
Trade Iraq and Lebanon face long wait to join WTO Iraq and Lebanon have indicated a desire to resume talks aimed at joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), but history suggests the two could be in for a long wait. To join the WTO, a government has to bring its economic and trade policies into line with the organisation’s rules and principles and negotiate with […] February 27, 2024
Renewable Energy Iraq plans push on solar and green hydrogen projects Iraq is planning to build solar plants and its first green hydrogen project as part of a strategy to tackle power shortages and reduce its carbon footprint. The country’s cabinet has approved a proposal to install 12 gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2030, said a National Investment Commission representative, Rahim Al Jaafari. Projects capable […] February 22, 2024
Infrastructure Iraq seeks investors for rail projects in Baghdad and beyond Iraq is seeking investors for two major rail projects including a seven-line metro system to serve Baghdad’s growing population. The National Investment Commission (NIC) has issued International Investment Opportunity documents for Baghdad metro and phase one of a 90km four-station railway linking Najaf International Airport with Karbala city centre. Investors have until April 11 to […] February 22, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Oil & Gas UAE’s Crescent can help Iraq meet its energy needs, says CEO Iraq’s energy needs offer great potential for growth for Crescent Petroleum, the oldest private oil and gas company in the UAE, its group chief executive Majid Jafar has told AGBI. The Sharjah-headquartered company has built an important presence in Iraq, where it has invested nearly $4 billion, mainly in the Kurdistan region. “We operate the […] February 21, 2024
Analysis Oil & Gas Saudi Arabia hits brakes as others push oil output capacity Saudi Arabia may have shelved plans to raise oil output capacity but the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq believe global crude demand will grow and are gearing up for expansion, according to industry observers. Although Opec is implementing production cuts to stabilise the market over the near term, its core members are focused on longer-term commitments, […] February 20, 2024
Energy Dana Gas profit falls 12% on lower hydrocarbon prices Profits at Abu Dhabi-listed Dana Gas fell 12.1 percent year on year to AED586 million ($160 million) in 2023 as a result of lower hydrocarbon prices. However, the company reported a production increase in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and reduced operating costs. Revenue decreased 20 percent year on year to AED1.55 billion. Operational costs fell […] February 8, 2024
Analysis Manufacturing Saudi deal ‘unlikely to cure Iraq’s pharma problems’ Iraq has turned to Saudi Arabia to help it improve its healthcare industry and increase pharmaceutical manufacturing. The ministries of health for both countries are collaborating to boost private healthcare in Iraq and foster partnerships to speed up the establishment of local pharmaceutical factories. However analysts say the impact of the partnership will be limited […] February 8, 2024
Finance Iraq bans eight local banks from US dollar transactions Iraq has banned eight local commercial banks from engaging in US dollar transactions, taking action to reduce fraud, money laundering and other illegal uses of US currency, days after a visit by a top US treasury official. The banks are banned from accessing the Iraqi central bank’s daily dollar auction, a main source of hard […] February 5, 2024
Construction Egyptian developer to build Iraq’s largest housing project Egypt’s Ora Developers Group will build the largest residential city in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, which will feature 100,000 residential units. The contract was awarded by the Iraqi government. No details of the project cost were given. Ali Al-Wardi, a smart city project located 25 km southeast of Baghdad, will be built on an area of […] February 2, 2024
