Thread: Archive News - Iraqi Dinar Think Tank - 24/01/201 - 23/07/2011

Nujaifi statements on U.S. pullout misunderstood – MP

Some misunderstood statements by parliament speaker Osama Nujaifi on the responsibility of the government for the staying or departure of U.S. forces, according to a member of parliament from al-Iraqiya bloc on Sunday.

“The extension of the U.S. forces’ mandate cannot be made without a decision to be submitted by the government to parliament, where it would be debated and voted by its members,” Zuhair al-A’raji told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

A'raji added that "the statements were misunderstood because the government cannot take such decision without resorting to the parliament.”

He added "the misunderstanding occurred when they thought that Nujaifi authorized the government to take the necessary decision by virtue of the security agreement without referring to the parliament."

A'raji wondered whether the Iraqi government and its security organs were ready to shoulder the responsibility following the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

"That was the significance of Nujaifi’s statements," he confirmed.

He pointed out that the withdrawal "is fixed" because the Iraqis "refuse the presence of U.S. forces," which is "identical with al-Iraqiya bloc’s viewpoint,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Maha al-Douri of al-Ahrar bloc, an offshoot of the Sadrist Movement, described Nujaifi's statements as "an attempt to evade responsibility and throw the ball in the government's court.”

http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....page&id=142424

Iraq’s former Trade Minister charged with wasting US$245 millions

Member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Integrity Commission, Khalid Abdullah al-Alwany, has charged Iraq’s former Trade Minister, Abdul-Falah al-Soudany, with having wasted US$245 millions of his Ministry’s budget.

“During our checking of the Trade Ministry’s contracts for the year 2008, we find out the wasting of US$245 millions, being contracts of vegetable oil only,” Alwany, said in a statement, issued by his al-Iraqiya Coalition on Monday.

Alwany said that former Trade Minister, Abdul-Falah al-Sundany and the Ministry’s Director-General for Foodstuff, (whose name he did not give,) “had been responsible for the said loss.”

“The reason for the loss had been the payment of large amounts for the prices of foodstuff in contracts, signed with the supplying companies,” he said, adding that “the quantity of vegetable oil, that reached 15,000 tons for 1,332 dollars per ton, whilst the price cited in the contract had reached 2,400 dollars per ton.

Alwany said that “the quantity of imported vegetable oil had been enough to cover Iraq’s needs for the years 2,008, 2,009 and 2,010, whilst the expiry of the imported vegetable oil did not exceed 2 years.”

http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....&id=142722&l=1

Parliamentary economic: Iraq has become the center of an attractive investment

The Commission on the economy and investment representative, on Tuesday, the importance of the visit by the Czech delegation to Iraq, indicating that the country is on the verge of an economic renaissance largely through the determination of all investment companies to enter the Iraqi market.

The committee member said Salman al-Moussawi, told the Kurdish news agency (Rn), "The Czech government delegation's visit to Iraq is important at the current stage, especially since there is an improvement in the security situation which makes a suitable investment ground."

He explained that Moussaoui "Iraq has become attractive countries for investments of various kinds against the backdrop of the improving security situation and having the elements of economic revival."

And that "the Czech delegation's visit to Iraq yesterday will have a significant economic returns to the Iraqi reality, especially that Czech companies will come in the areas of housing construction and other infrastructure."

The Czech Prime Minister Peter Nichass had arrived in Baghdad yesterday on his first visit at the head of the delegation of economic, military, and deal with the Iraqi government Agreements military and economic areas and expressed his country's determination to enter strongly in the work of reconstruction of infrastructure.

Iraq suffers from dilapidated infrastructure sectors in the overall result of long years of siege and war during the last two decades of the last century.

Despite the passage of eight years to topple the former Iraqi regime, Iraqi governments have not been able to provide basic public services to citizens, which often protesting the lack of it.

http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/242056/

Interview - Iraq is moving ahead in the development of gas and waiting for Shell deal

Ali Khudayr Director-General of the South Gas Company Iraqi government that Iraq is facing difficulties due to power outages is currently installing equipment to compress gas to take advantage of the huge quantities of associated gas being burned in the oil fields south of the country. He said Khudayr told Reuters in an interview on Sunday that Iraq hopes to conclude gas deal worth $12 billion with Shell on the London Stock Exchange as soon as possible. Iraq is working to complete the joint venture agreement between the South Gas, Shell and Mitsubishi of Japan since the signing of an agreement in principle in 2008. With the increasing gas associated with oil production increasing from the southern oilfields in Iraq, pressure grew to find a solution. At present, the associated gas is being burned to the lack of infrastructure for storage.

The deal allows Shell to take advantage of more than 700 million cubic feet per day of gas, which intensifies the need to in generating electricity. Khudayr said that the new equipment being installed in the first phase of West Qurna field could begin operation by mid-2012. He said he will be installing new equipment in the Zubair field by the second half of this year, while additional facilities will be built for the gas also Rumaila.

"Whether an agreement with Shell went ahead or not, we will not stand idly by. May be agreed and perhaps stop at a certain stage, but this does not mean to stop the South Gas Company for work."

Khudayr said that the southern Basra fields produce 1.1 billion cubic feet per day of gas associated with crude oil production is utilized only 40 percent of these quantities. The new equipment will address some of the quantities of gas associated with oil production and will enter in the share of Iraq in the joint venture with Shell and Mitsubishi, to be completed when agreement.

Iraq and will own a 51 percent stake in the new joint venture.

Iraq needs to update the existing facilities, gas compression, mostly due to limitations and build factories for processing the use of associated gas, as part of his plan to increase electricity production to meet demand. Being developed the first phase of West Qurna field, at the hands of Exxon Mobil mainly while Italy's Eni is the main operator of the Zubair field and you me. BP with CNN.. Me. C-Chinese development of Rumaila.

Khudayr said that the new gas equipment in the West Qurna will not be able to use the entire current gas production, "but will provide us at least a liquefied gas and other products needed to generate electricity," are currently imported.

He continued, "Our plan at this stage is to cover all the equipment that was purchased and contracted quantities of gas that burned so far completed the Shell deal."

Iraq signed a series of agreements with foreign oil companies aimed at increasing production capacity to 12 million barrels per day by 2017 from 2.7 million barrels per day currently to compete with so Saudi Arabia's biggest oil exporter in the world. Most analysts believe that the production of six to seven million barrels per day, a more realistic target. It is expected that the production of gas associated with oil deals in Iraq, established by the auctions in 2009 to about eight million cubic feet per day. Iraq expects to reach oil production to three million bpd by the end of this year and 3.3 million barrels per day in 2012 and 6.5 million barrels per day in 2014.

Khudayr said "in accordance with contracts signed in the rounds of auctions, the gas production will increase in large quantities ... we need a lot of money to take advantage of it. We need compressor stations and gas plants and factories for the production of liquefied gas and more.

"If the government fails to provide us with money, then we must agree with the international companies for the development of gas in the south."

Not required of companies that are developing oil fields in the south and in accordance with the first phase of auctions in 2009 - the Rumaila and Zubayr and the stage number one in the West Qurna - to deal with associated gas. Shell will be collected through the deal, which stalled in the past due to legal obstacles and political opposition of gas from these fields, only the three. And should be completed the final draft of the agreement and approved by the Council of Ministers before they are signed. Will be the use of gas under the agreement, mainly in electricity generation and domestic consumption with the option to export the surplus. Iraq is facing difficulties for years due to power outages, "said Khudair he hoped to complete the agreement with Shell as soon as possible.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/Display....aspx?id=15744

Gulf Keystone: More Good News For Oil Exporters

Gulf Keystone, the oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, announced on Monday that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has asked it to start exporting 5,000 barrels of oil per day. This happens just days after the Iraq central government released the first payment to the KRG after a long dispute, which KRG can use to pay oil exporters.

Although the sign off is yet to be officially completed, and can’t take place until some other preparatory work is completed, COO John Gerstenlauer said: “The company views the recent announcement by the KRG confirming release of the first oil export payment to the KRG as an extremely positive development for all the oil producers in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.”

Considering the progress of the company to find oil, Gerstenlauer said: “We will soon have four exploration/appraisal wells underway in Kurdistan with further wells expected to spud before the end of the summer. The Company’s steady progress in the Shaikan-2 and Sheikh Adi-1 drilling is highly encouraging and we look forward to obtaining more results from these two wells soon.”

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/201...oil-exporters/

Iraq Oil And Gas Events

Organizers of Basra Oil & Gas and Baghdad Oil & Gas are glad to announce that both events are officially supported by the Iraq Ministry of Oil.

In the document signed by Mr. Ahmed Al-Shamma, Deputy Minister for Refining and Gas Processing, it is clearly indicated that the ministry is pleased with the success of the 1st Basra Oil & Gas event which was held between 25th – 28th November 2010 in Basra International Fair Ground and supports the upcoming Baghdad Oil & Gas (2-5 October 2011) and Basra Oil & Gas (25-28 November 2011) events. Kindly visit the event websites to view the official support letters.

Baghdad Oil & Gas – http://www.baghdadoilgas.com/
Basra Oil & Gas – http://www.basraoilgas.com

For more information and your booking enquiries for the events, please contact [email protected]

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/201...nd-gas-events/

Talabani good health

Network this day of News (HNN) - spokesman of the Political Bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, on Monday, reports that an operation of the Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, adding that his health is good and will return to the country soon.

He said Jundiyani of Kurdistan News Agency (Rn) that "Jalal Talabani will return to the Kurdistan region within the next two days of the visit by the United States of America."

The spokesman of the "Talabani will take part after his return, in the celebrations and ceremonies for the annual anniversary of the establishment of the National Union, which marks the first of June (June) next in the city of Sulaimaniyah."

He pointed out that "participating in these celebrations as a sign of improvement in his health," denying reports that his surgeries in America, saying that "what is he underwent annual examinations and had not had any surgery."

Broadcast television (NRT) space last night, according to a news item of information received by the channel, that he was "carried to the Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Jalal Talabani two surgeries in the United States, one of the eye and the other for his teeth."

It is said that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani left the country in the ninth month of May under the direction of the United States, in order to conduct some medical tests in U.S. hospitals.

http://www.swalefnalhelwa.com/news.p...n=view&id=1705

Security Commission Member: We might as well give up

There is no point in talking about how to improve security in Iraq, we might as well give up. This was the rather blunt message from a member of the Security Commission today.

Shwan Mohammed Taha said provisions had reached a futile stage with security officials totally failing to do their jobs. Referring to the failure of the government to appoint new security ministers he said: "The deterioration of security in Iraq is down to the politicization of security."

However he warned that even with the allocation of the positions "these people will not create security miracles in Iraq."

He went on to say that, due to the level that the security services have been infiltrated by people loyal to militant groups rather than the state, the security system should be pulled down to start from scratch.

Recent months have seen an escalation in the targeted killing of security officers and government officials, often with silenced weapons or improvised explosive devises. Suicide bombs, once common place at the height of the troubles in 2006-2007, are rarer now.

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZA...s_well_give_up

Oil Expert criticizes the rush to take out all the fields in licensing rounds

expert criticized the oil Halim Kazem rush to contract to all the fields in licensing rounds. Kazim said in a statement to correspondent Agency (news) on Tuesday: "It was supposed to sign two or three to raise production to 4 million barrels per day, and then be signed on the remaining contracts because we can not see the problems and constraints only through the implementation."

Kazim added that "the development of oil fields needs to be large financial investments, and Iraq possesses this wealth, there must be people with a investors competencies and expertise to oil, so that the search for partners to correct the issue.

A number of experts have confirmed that the conclusion of contracts between the oil ministry and international companies for a period of (25) years is a clear line, and must treat the fact that such contracts should be organized according to the oil and gas law, which regulates oil policy in the country ..

http://www.ikhnews.com/news_view_13933.html

Sorry if repeat post

Strengthening Iraq

The U.S. Department of State has made a statement about the “substantial investment and great sacrifices” that the United States has made to “bring about progress”:

Since 2003, the United States has been an active partner to help Iraqis strengthen their democracy, build civil society, improve security, and re-integrate fully into the regional and global community and economy. Since 2009, we have worked through the U.S. Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement to reinvigorate this partnership in a range of sectors, including democracy-building, security, education, energy, trade, health, culture, information technology, law enforcement, and judicial cooperation.

We have made a substantial investment and great sacrifices to bring about progress. We have strengthened Iraq’s democracy, rule of law, and civil society. We have helped rebuild its security infrastructure and helped Iraq rejoin the international community after decades of isolation. Our support – with significant assistance from international partners since 2003 – has helped Iraq successfully conduct five major elections or referenda since 2004, including two parliamentary elections. Over 12 million Iraqis voted in the 2010 parliamentary election – a 62 percent turnout. The U.S. has also substantially assisted Iraq’s new parliament, the Council of Representatives, in building core capacity and competence. State and USAID programs have helped Iraqi civil society – including women’s groups, human rights organizations, budget transparency entities, and the media — play an active role in Iraq’s democracy. We are also supporting Iraqi parliamentary efforts that produced the region’s most progressive non-governmental organization law. In December 2010, the United States also helped Iraq secure UN Security Council termination of most Chapter VII sanctions against Iraq, bringing Iraq into a more normal relationship with the community of nations.

Since November 2008, our security relationship with Iraq has undergone a significant transition. Building on the success and sacrifice of our troops who partnered with Iraqi Security Forces to bring an end to sectarian fighting and combat insurgency, we have ended the combat mission, reduced our troop level to below 50,000, and handed the lead for the security of their nation to Iraqi Security Forces. The Iraqis have developed the capacity to successfully provide internal security, as our forces have shifted from a combat role to a role focused on advising and training.

The U.S. has provided training, technical expertise, and equipment to bolster critical rule of law capacity in Iraq, focusing in particular on the police, corrections service, and judiciary. This investment has improved the Iraqi government’s ability to provide for the humane treatment and legal rights of its citizens, while also properly incarcerating criminals and insurgents.

On the economic front, we have worked to promote growth and reform in multiple sectors of Iraq’s economy. We have helped the Iraqis realize better management in key ministries with procedural and institutional reforms and training on international procedures and standards. U.S. programs have produced or supported key benchmarks:

• Three transparent and efficient oil and gas bid rounds since 2009.
• An Electricity Master Plan which lays out a strategy to improve and reform Iraq’s electricity sector.
• Iraq setting up the first commercial court to settle arbitration disputes for international investors in 2011.
• Iraqi ministry and provincial officials reforming agricultural policies and boosting productivity in a sector that is key to Iraq’s employment.
• Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization to expand Iraq’s trade and global economic integration.
• Iraq’s successful engagements with the IMF and World Bank to undertake key public financial management, social safety net, and banking sector reforms.
• Intense interaction between U.S. and Iraqi businesses to promote investment in Iraq.

Our assistance has helped Iraq combat corruption with programs for integrity institutions: the Board of Supreme Audit, the Commission on Integrity, and the Inspectors General. Our assistance also helped Iraq produce and begin to implement a 2010 comprehensive national anti-corruption strategy.

We have promoted long-term economic growth, political development, and strong cultural links to the U.S. by assisting the educational sector in Iraq. Iraq has the largest Fulbright Foreign Visiting Student Program in Middle East, and the International Visitor Leadership Program in Iraq is the largest in the world. Iraq is the eighth-largest foreign government contributor to the Fulbright program. Additionally, USDA has cemented links between Iraqi universities and U.S. land grant universities to build an agricultural extension program.

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/201...gthening-iraq/