Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 01/01/08 - 14/04/08

Austrian company adhere to oil contract with Kurdistan government

A source in the European Austrian oil and energy company OMV announced that the Company abides by the items of the contract it had already signed with Kurdistan region government. The same source stressed that this agreement comes in the framework of Iraqi constitution. It also said that the company imported 140 thousand tons of crude oil and it refused to comment on Iraqi news uttering that Iraq central government halted its oil exports to the Austrian Company.

Austrian company adhere to oil contract with Kurdistan government | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Iraq Industrials appeal to hastily issue intellectual property law

A number of industrials pointed out that it is important to enact a law that guaranties intellectual property in all the fields in order to hoist Iraq industrial sector and to avoid that inventor flee and submit patents in other countries that ensures them their intellectual rights.

Iraq Industrials appeal to hastily issue intellectual property law | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Update......

Axon Mobil Crop interested in helping to develop Iraq huge oil reserves

Axon Mobil Corp affirmed today that it is interested in helping to develop Iraq huge oil reserves. Yet it refused to comment on having submitted bids to compete on getting oil contracts in Iraq.

Lin Diramo the company’s spokesman said that if Iraq government decided that it wants an international partner to help it in developing its resources that Axon Mobil would be interested in participating. He added as well that it is still premature to discuss signing oil contracts opportunities on which oil companies compete in order to develop oil infrastructure.

Axon Mobil Crop interested in helping to develop Iraq huge oil reserves | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Asharq Al-Awsat Interviews Deputy Iraqi Premier Barham Saleh

This is a rather long interview. I have just taken an extract regarding Oil. Of course the entire interview can be read from the link........


[Asharq Al-Awsat] There are some unresolved political issues, chiefly the oil bill, which the cabinet approved last February. When do you expect this bill to be passed into law?

[Saleh] Without doubt we cannot avoid admitting failure in this connection. The fact that the oil law has not been passed represents a large obstacle to the development of the petroleum sector, which would enable us to exploit this national resource.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] But what are the causes of the disagreements and the delay in passing the law?

[Saleh] There are unresolved issues pertaining to the way the contracts will be concluded. I expect that the disputed points over the oil law will be debated in the near future. I hope that these problems will be solved in a friendly manner and create a favorable administrative and investment atmosphere for the oil sector's development. The disagreements revolve around the methods of management but there is no dispute over the partnership of all Iraqis over the oil wealth and the necessity of fair and indiscriminate distribution of oil revenues to all Iraqis.

As it stands today Iraqi oil is still well below the desired levels of production and exports. We had hoped that production would reach three million barrels per day. Unfortunately, it has remained below that. This is a big defect and a significant failure particularly in view of the high oil prices and the requirements of reconstruction in Iraq. This failure resulted from administrative problems and political tugs-of-war that influenced the oil sector and from the fact that many experts in this vital sector have left the country.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] The investment climate in Iraq is currently discouraging. Conflicting announcements emerge from the Kurdistan region and Baghdad over the fate of the companies that have started work in the region. How do you think this issue will be solved?

[Saleh] There is a point of disagreement between the government of the Kurdistan region and the Oil Ministry. The decision to blacklist the oil companies was not made by the cabinet. There is no definite, approved government policy over the issue. I wish to talk about this issue objectively from my position as deputy prime minister. If we succeed in solving this issue soon, then all is well and good but if we do not succeed in doing this and the Oil Ministry and the Kurdistan region each clings to its position, the issue will go to the Federal Court, which should settle the issue according to the constitution. A unilateral decision by a particular minister or ministry without recourse to the constitution is absolutely unacceptable. This issue could have been settled without all this escalation. We should adhere to the constitution in solving disagreements. In all countries it is normal to have conflicting views over the implementation of a constitutional provision. It is absolutely unacceptable for one party to monopolize a decision and try to impose it as a fait accompli. In my opinion there will be a political debate over a decision and hopefully we will reach the conclusion that we should adhere to the constitution and the law.

PUKmedia :: English - Asharq Al-Awsat Interviews Deputy Iraqi Premier Barham Saleh

Barham Salih: Second Stage of facing Terrorism is through starting with Reconstruction Projects

Today the Iraqi deputy PM, Barham Salih met with the US senate delegation in Baghdad.

They discussed the bilateral ties between both countries as well as developments which Iraq witnesses including the tribal awakening councils to irradiate remnants of the al-Qaida terrorists and sectarianism.

Both sides also discussed the current ongoing Iraqi political process during the meeting, in which the Iraqi deputy PM indicated the need for political and economic developments along with the security developments.

He also emphasized that the second stage of facing terrorism is through starting with reconstruction projects as well as rising living standards of the Iraqis.

PUKmedia :: English - Barham Salih: Second Stage of facing Terrorism is through starting with Reconstruction Projects

President Talabani: Coming Cabinet Reshuffle will not affect PM Nuri al-Maliki

Today the Iraqi President, his Excellency Jalal Talabani met with the top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, and held a press conference after the meeting at al-Hakim Foundation, led by Ammar al-Hakim, in the holy Shiite city of Najaf.

"The coming cabinet reshuffle will not affect the Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.There is a consensus to reduce ministerial positions to half,” President Talabani told reporters.

He rejected reports that al-Maliki would be replaced by Vice-President Adel Abdul-Mahdi, saying "These reports are false and invalid." Abdul-Mahdi supported al-Maliki's bid to remain prime minister, he added praising the top Shiite clerics in Iraq, and including Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani saying it was "a blessing for Iraq."

"We seek to work with the religious clergy to achieve interests of the Iraqi people, but they (the clerics) do not interfere in internal details of the country." He added.

"We in the Kurdistan Alliance Bloc care for all interests of Sunnis as well as Shiites. I serve all regardless of ethnicity, nationalism or religion," he said regarding his duties.

“There is hope to expand the four-fold agreement to become six parties agreement. The Iraqi Islamic Party headed by the Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi and the Iraqi National Accord headed by Ayad Allawi are intending to join the four-fold agreement.” President Talabani said concerning the Iraqi political process.

PUKmedia :: English - President Talabani: Coming Cabinet Reshuffle will not affect PM Nuri al-Maliki

Basra's Umm al-Qasr receives 3 cargo ships

Three cargo ships arrived on Saturday at Basra's port of Umm al-Qasr, relations and media director at the State Company for Iraqi Ports said on Wednesday.

"On Saturday morning, Umm al-Qasr Port received an American ship called Alien carrying a cargo of modern cars, the Panamanian Kawthar with a varied cargo and the Comoran Salimi," Abdul Kareem Sabri told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).

The Shiite province of Basra, 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, has five commercial ports and two oil ports: al-Maaqal, established in 1916 by the British forces and handed over to Iraqi authorities in 1937; and Faw, a small port on the al-Faw Peninsula near the Shatt al-Arab and the Persian Gulf.

Aswat Aliraq

Iranian company to construct power station in Najaf- spokesman

An Iranian electricity development institution will set up a thermal station for generating electricity to alleviate the power shortage in the Iraqi provinces of Najaf and Karbala, a spokesman for the Najaf governor said on Saturday.

"This year, an electricity development institution in Iran will start building a thermal station for producing electricity in Najaf's northern area of al-Haidariya," Ahmed Dubeil told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI), noting that a piece of land has been zoned for the project.

"The local government has taken measures to prepare the land for use," Dubeil added, noting that starting date of the project will soon be set by the institution in coordination with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity and Najaf governor.

At a total cost of 150 million euros given as part of the Iranian grant to Iraq, the station is expected to operate at a generating capacity of 320 megawatts, Dubeil explained.

"The station will alleviate the electricity shortage in Najaf and Karbala," he said, adding, "The new station will not eliminate the shortfalls in Najaf province, estimated at 400 megawatts."

On Friday Iraq's Minister of Electricity Kareem Wahid led a delegation to Iran to discuss with Iranian officials several disputed issued between his ministry and the Iranian Ministry of Power.

Najaf, Iraq's holiest Shiite city, lies 160 km southwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Aswat Aliraq

Kerosene shortage in Missan

Missan province is suffering from a severe shortage of kerosene after all reserves have been depleted, an official from Missan's oil institution said on Saturday.

"The province has been complaining about a substantial shortfall in kerosene since the beginning of this year," Naeem Zahran told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).

"The shortfall in supply is linked to the suspension of the operation of al-Amara refinery and Basra's al-Shuaiba refinery," Zahran explained.

"The province's 5-million-liter reserve of kerosene has been distributed to local residents in January 20, 2008," Zahran noted.

"Since then the province has only received 120,000 liters that have also been distributed to residents as a second batch…," he added.

Missan has an old refinery that meets only 25% of its needs.

Amara, the capital city of Missan province, lies 390 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Aswat Aliraq

Gold, platinum go up in local markets

Local Iraqi markets witnessed a remarkable increase in gold and platinum prices on Saturday, with some crediting the hike to a corresponding increase in international markets.

In Iraqi markets, 21-carat gold was sold for $25.99 per gram, compared to $25.5 on Thursday, while the buying price was $25.20, compared to $25 on Thursday.
Platinum also bounced in local markets, hitting $60 per gram, compared to $58.50 on Thursday.

Speaking to Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI), a jeweler who requested anonymity said that the hike is due mainly to the price increase in international metal markets.

Aswat Aliraq