Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

Iraq to sell Jordan discounted oil
(AFP)

21 December 2006



AMMAN - Iraq will sell oil to Jordan at a preferential rate 18 dollars lower than market prices, Al Ghad newspaper reported on Thursday quoting Jordanian Energy Minister Khaled Al Shreideh.


“Energy Minister Khaled Al Shreideh said that Iraq will provide oil to Jordan in line with a recent agreement at a price 18 dollars per barrel less than world prices,” the newspaper said.

Iraq struck a deal in mid-August with Jordan to provide its oil-parched neighbour with 10-30 percent of its daily oil needs of around 100,000 barrels.

Oil supplies from Iraq to Jordan were due to begin in September but have been delayed for technical and security reasons including finalising the means of transport.

Al-Ghad quoted Transportation Minister Saud Nessayrat as saying that a Jordanian-Iraqi transport firm would be ready within two months to carry oil from Iraq to Jordan by tanker trucks.

Jordan depended on Iraq for all its oil needs before the start of the US-led war on its eastern neighbour in March 2003, importing 5.5 million tonnes annually by road, half of it free and the rest at a preferential price.

Engineers improving oil export
Thursday, 21 December 2006
BASRAH — Many new opportunities and important development projects in the southern oil fields of Iraq

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on various projects to ramp up oil production for the newly democratic country and help improve Iraq’s economy. By A. Al Bahrani


The Al Basrah Oil Terminal, or ABOT, is Iraq’s principle export facility located near the Persian Gulf. Official U.S. Army photo.BASRAH — Many new opportunities and important development projects in the southern oil fields of Iraq

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on various projects to ramp up oil production for the newly democratic country and help improve Iraq’s economy.

One important project is the al Basrah Oil Terminal, formerly known as Mina Al-Baker and now called “ABOT,” and is considered to be the gateway to Iraq’s prosperity.

“Right now oil is Iraq’s major export. It isn’t easy to increase oil exports, but the Corps has plans of raising the crude output to meet 3 million barrels per day in 2007,” said Bob Tillisch, oil program manager with the Basrah Area Office of Gulf Region South District.

He said experts estimate Iraq has about 115 billion barrels of oil reserves, concentrated mainly in the south.

“The main objective of the ABOT development project is to create a strong and reliable source of income for Iraq, improve Iraqi living conditions, and creates new opportunities for employment,” Tillisch said. He added that during Phase One of the refurbishment of ABOT a hydraulic bridge system was installed at Platforms A and B, and the telescopic platform bridging systems at Berths 1, 2, 3 and 4 were removed, repaired and reinstalled.

Also, the hydraulic power units, the directional control valves and other system-critical equipment were refurbished.

Tillisch explained ABOT previously operated without a functioning fire and gas protection system, and that there were no fire or gas detection sensors, or pressure alarm systems. The emergency shutdown valves were either corroded or missing, and the firewater pumps did not work effectively.

“During Phase Two, we (USACE) provided a modern fire-fighting system with both diesel and electrical fire-water pumps throughout the platform in case of fire. Also, this new system will have fire-fighting foam capabilities in order to increase its effectiveness. This replaces the previous system which was outdated,” he added.

At present, there is no effective way of metering how much oil is loaded on board tanker ships. Iraq’s South Oil Company has to measure the cargo tanks by hand.

Tillisch said USACE will supply modern metering devices for platforms A and B, which will ensure that the total amount of oil exported from ABOT can be measured electronically.

“The renovation includes new radio communication equipment at eight sites throughout the southern Iraq oil fields and refineries including the ABOT,” Tillisch said. “This will ensure that pumping oil from the mainland to the ABOT can be done more safely and effectively by a modern communication system.

“The installation of radios, battery back-up systems and new microwave dishes will greatly increase safety to enable the South Oil Company to start and shut down in an orderly and efficient means. In case of an emergency at the ABOT, all pump stations can be shut down immediately. Such an action will increase the safety in case of fire here at the ABOT,” he said
.
“USACE will provide an emergency shutdown system for Platforms A and B,” said David Anderson, a construction representative with the Basrah Oil Office. “This will consist of an electrical control station and all associated wiring and valves. In case of an emergency, the SOC operators will have a safe and efficient means to turn off the loading to the oil tanker which is tied alongside the pier.”

To provide a reliable source of lighting and power for ABOT, USACE refurbished the four diesel generators installed in 1979. The Corps is also providing life-saving equipment and life rafts for evacuation from ABOT in case of an accident.

“Remember, being on the ABOT is almost like being on a ship,” Anderson said. “All SOC personnel can safely use the SOLAS (Save Our Lives at Seas) equipment, which are approved life-saving boats.”

For Anderson, this $50 million project has been designed to increase the terminal’s loading capacity to three million barrels of oil per day, and to enhance the reliability and safety of the terminal operations. have opened up since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Local government, Iraqi Security Forces touch children’s lives
Wednesday, 20 December 2006
Story and photo by 1st Lt. Hector Guzman
1st Cavalry Division



Members of the 5th Iraqi Army Division and Iraqi Government representatives from the Diyala province pass out school supplies to local schools in Abu Sayda.FOB NORMANDY — Several schools in the Diyala province received an unexpected visit, not to mention toys and school supplies, from Iraqi Government representatives, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces recently.

Representatives from the city council, along with Iraqi Police officials, took part in a historical event designed to assist the children and schools in Abu Sayda, a town near Forward Operating Base Normandy. Soldiers from 6-9 Combined Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were there to provide additional assistance.

The group delivered toys and school supplies such as pencils, paper, and erasers that were donated from residents of North Carolina. This event is only the beginning of many efforts scheduled to assist the community in transforming its under-funded school system.

During their visit, Iraqi Government representatives received requests for additional school supplies because the schools have a limited budget. To continue making a difference in the community, Iraqi Government representatives along with coalition forces stationed in the region, will remain diligent in working together to improve the education system in Iraq.

Continued efforts will be made to reduce Iraq's adult literacy rate, now estimated to be less than 60 percent, one of the lowest in any Arab country.

Abu Sayda school officials were thankful for the supplies and are now requesting computers. They hope to establish computer labs to enhance computer literacy for Iraqi students.

The group vowed to continue working to support their needs.

Gates: Nothing more important than succeeding in Iraq
Thursday, 21 December 2006
BAGHDAD — Succeeding in Iraq is the Defense Department’s top priority, newly sworn-in Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, said here Wednesday.
“I’m confident we can do so,” Gates said in a news briefing at Al Faw Palace, headquarters of Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

The secretary said he came on this surprise Iraq visit to hear "first-hand candid, honest assessments from our commanders on how to proceed in Iraq, particularly since they’ll be the ones to implement whatever decisions are made. I value both their advice and their service to our country.”

Gates said he’s been to Iraq before and has spoken to many of the commanders he met with during his visit, most recently as a member of the Iraq Study Group. Members of the bi-partisan group visited here earlier this year and released their report to the president and Congress on Dec. 6.

One option for dealing with violence in Iraq is to “surge” additional U.S servicemembers into the area. Gates said the idea has merit, but he’ll make no recommendations to the president until he’s spoken to the Iraqis and senior U.S. military members.

The secretary said U.S. commanders have been “very candid” in discussions and that he’s looking forward to discussions with Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Gates stressed the importance of talking to Iraqi leaders.

“We need to remember that there is an Iraqi government and … that government needs to be a partner in this, or we need to be a partner with the Iraqi government with them out in front,” he said.

Neither of the top two American military commanders in the region -- Gen. George W. Casey Jr., commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, and Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S. Central Command -- endorsed the idea of sending more military forces to Iraq, but they also did not reject the idea.

Casey noted that he has asked for -- and received -- additional troops several times when he felt they were needed for specific missions, such as to provide security during elections or to participate in major offensives.

“I’m not necessarily opposed to the idea, but what I want to see happen is when (or) if we do bring more American troops here, they help us progress to our strategic objectives,” Casey said.

Abizaid said all options are on the table.

“We’re looking at every possible thing that might influence the situation to make Baghdad, in particular, more secure,” he said.

Gates said he will make no decisions on how to proceed in Iraq, but he will provide recommendations to President Bush.

“There is only one vote that matters, and that’s the president of the United States,” Gates said. “What I’m here to do is talk to all these folks, talk to the Iraqis and see what advice I can give to the president that would help him make the decision.”

(Courtesy of Kathleen T. Rhem, American Forces Press Service)

Iraq to Propose New Baghdad Security Plan
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Posted GMT 12-21-2006 17:41:16
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Under a new plan, Iraqis will have the ability to launch security operations without a multinational OK, the Iraqi government said Thursday.

The security plan for war-torn Baghdad would ostensibly place Iraqi troops in the lead and coalition forces in a supporting role.

The plan emerged during talks among officials from the Iraqi Defense and Interior ministries as well as the Multi-National Forces in Iraq.

The plan, which "will see the light of day soon," according to Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, would create a system with "swifter mobilization and decision-making."

There will be an overall Iraqi commander for Baghdad and one commander each from the largely Sunni area west of the Tigris River, called Karkh, and the largely Shiite area east of the river, called Rusafa. One commander will be from the Interior Ministry, the other from the Defense Ministry, Khalaf said.

In addition, a commander will be in charge of nine security districts in Baghdad, he said.

Security forces will remain at the same level, Khalaf said. As many as 45,000 Iraqi security forces have been in Baghdad in recent weeks.

They'll be provided with better bomb detection equipment placed at the city's entrances and 200 explosives experts. The equipment will allow troops to detect explosives from a distance of 100 meters or more.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's efforts to establish security in Baghdad have faltered in the face of Sunni-Shiite violence.

© 2006, Assyrian International News Agency. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use.

As of Now. Totally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by neno

Read the rules for this thread, before posting in this "THREAD"!! tks-neno

Baghdad Time: 05:51am, 12/20/2006 ~ market is closed | $1 USD = 1387.65 IQD ^

ISXDATA.com Site. not updated since 10/09/06

CBIraq.org Auction price selling dinar / $1USD - 1380NID's

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billion dollars, the volume of the budget for 2007


Iraqi Minister of Finance, Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaydi, announced that "No change in the 2007 budget, which is fixed at 41 billion dollars", but he indicated "transfers and distributions will be made so that the new budget will cover all sectors of the Iraqi people to avoid the mistakes that happened in last year's budget, and the confusion that happened in the implementation of investment projects".

After the economic committee meeting under the chairmanship of Vice-President Adel Abdel Mahdi, the Iraqi minister revealed that "new conditions are put to punish the parties who fall behind in the implementation, then withdraw the funds that have not been spent and convert them to the implementation of large projects in the country".
Regarding the amendments to the salaries of governmental employees at the beginning of next year, Azzubaidi announced: "400 million dollars have been allocated to make the necessary adjustments to the salaries of the employees. The increases would range between 50 and 70%, and each employee will get the increase he deserves, starting from the beginning of next January".

Azzubaidi pointed out that 2007budget "will be set at the rate of 1260 dinar to the dollar and 50 dollars per barrel of oil with the production of 1.7 million barrels a day". He explained that the Iraqi Central Bank "started raising interest rates from 12 to 16% now", pointing out that there are no immediate plans to continue raising interest rates.

He explained that the aim of raising interest rates is "to strengthen the Iraqi dinar, and curb the inflation of 56% now, as well as strengthening the confidence of Iraqis in the local currency".

Source: Iraq Directory

Just in time to help make quorum for the passing of the HCL...gotta love it!!!!!!!!!!

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 35 minutes ago



BAGHDAD, Iraq - Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed to allow supporters to rejoin the Iraqi government after a three-week boycott, officials close to the militia leader said Thursday, as political rivals pushed to form a coalition without him.

Shiites from parliament's largest bloc met Thursday in their holy city of Najaf to try to forge a new coalition across sectarian lines — one that won't include al-Sadr's supporters. They hoped, in part, to pressure al-Sadr to rejoin the political process and rein in his Mahdi Army militia, which is blamed for much of Iraq's sectarian violence.

In the southern city of Najaf, delegates from seven Shiite parties appealed to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, whose word is law to many Shiites, to support a planned governing coalition. The coalition would include Shiites, Kurds and one Sunni party — and bridge Iraq's treacherous sectarian divide.

Though al-Sistani is expected to approve the deal, he fears the coalition could weaken the Shiite bloc, officials close to him said on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the press.

It seems likely that al-Sistani intervened to persuade al-Sadr to return to government and avoid a Shiite split. The Sadrist boycott has undercut Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government and prevented it from passing legislation.

The new coalition would probably govern more efficiently than the current government, which has been criticized for its ties to al-Sadr. Al-Sadr's loyalists — 30 in the legislature and six in the Cabinet — walked off the job to protest al-Maliki's meeting with Bush in Jordan.

However, a new coalition government is not likely to end the threat from al-Sadr's militia. By ending the boycott, al-Sadr will retain some influence in parliament, and his apparent compromise may help him resist calls to curb his fighters.

Three politically influential Iraqis said the Sadrist boycott is ending. "Within two days, the al-Sadr movement will return to the government and parliament," said Abdul Karim al-Anizi, a Shiite lawmaker from al-Maliki's Dawa faction.

Two figures in al-Sadr's movement — an aide to the cleric and a member of parliament — also said the cleric had agreed to allow his followers to end their boycott. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the secrecy of the talks.

"We will rejoin the government and the parliament very soon," the lawmaker said. "We got some guarantees during our meeting today."

On Thursday, al-Sadr loyalists met with members of the Shiite bloc and laid out their demands, the lawmaker said.

"Our demands are to hand over the security file and not allow any regional interference in Iraqi affairs," he said, meaning, apparently, that U.S. forces must hand over all control of security forces to the Iraqi government.

The U.S. military is gradually transferring responsibility for security to Iraqi troops in less violent areas, but doubts remain about whether the Iraqis will be able to replace American troops throughout Iraq in the near future.

Bush is considering whether to quickly send thousands of additional U.S. troops to the country to control the chaotic violence. There are 140,000 American troops in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Gates, after meeting with Iraqi officials, said discussions focused "mainly on the overall approach, including the possibility of some additional assistance." But the Pentagon chief, on his fourth day on the job, was vague about the type of assistance discussed, and said no specific numbers of extra troops were brought up.

Gates chatted over breakfast with U.S. soldiers, many of whom supported the idea of more troops.

"With more presence on the ground, more troops might hold them off long enough to where we can get the Iraqi Army trained up," Spc. Jason T. Green of the 1st Infantry Division told Gates.

An interview with the Iraqi minister of oil, infrastructure projects in the governorate of Salah al-Din, a representative body of the Iraqi private sector.
اسينPreparation and submission : Nazim Yasin
6.This episode of the new (economic report), containing an interview with Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani talked about plans to increase production capacity in the year 2007 and the coming years, and another interview with the deputy governor of Salahuddin on the financial allocations and infrastructure projects initiated implemented during the year 2006.
).In today's episode of the follow-up project to establish a new body representing the private sector on behalf of (Iraqi Business Council).

- ..- An interview with the Iraqi Minister of Oil.

.The Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani in a press conference held following the recent tour during which he visited Australia, Japan and China confirmed that plans to increase production capacity to reach about three million and a half million barrels per day next year in 2007 to continue to increase during the coming years to become Iraq at the forefront of the oil producing countries.
.In other statements, especially for Radio Free Iraq, Shahrastani talked about a plan to establish a third port in the south of the country for the export of Iraqi oil and projects of the Ministry of Oil to modernize and expand refineries.
.With comes listen to his interview with our correspondent in Baghdad Leith Ahmed also talked about oil metering, which is expected to start operation in the coming period.
()(Interview with Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani)

- ..- Infrastructure projects in the governorate of Salah al-Din.

مع .With the approach of the current calendar year draws to a close, a deputy governor of Salahuddin Abdullah Hussein told tremendous (economic report) on the financial allocations for the various infrastructure projects initiated prepared or implemented in 2006 and include various economic sectors.
. ..With comes listen to his interview with the correspondent of Radio Free Iraq, Abdullah Ahmed and which he answered a question about the first investment central budget and the additional amounts that have been distributed as part of the development of the Territories. .

(المقابلة)(Interview)

- هيئة- A representative body of the Iraqi private sector

عاتقهاWith the transformation of the country towards a market economy, there was need to establish a representative body of the Iraqi private sector to assume
.Contact various local institutions and governments around the world to activate the Iraqi economy as well as contributing to the discussion and review of various relevant laws such as laws and investment banks, tax and corporate.
وللحديث ..To talk about the good foundation (the Iraqi Business Council), which bear the name of this new body, a correspondent of Radio Free Iraq in Arbil north of Ramadan interviews with a number of businessmen, economists and Wavana period following voice.

(Report with audio interviews)

Translated version of http://www.iraqhurr.org/

The House attached to its pending the arrival of the new budget

() - (Voice of Iraq) - 12-21-2006
صديقThis issue was sent to a friend

جديدةThe House attached to its pending the arrival of the new budget
مجلس الوزراءBaghdad / Nina / the House decided to suspend the meeting open standard for today until the arrival of the budget for next year by the Council of Ministers

what the heck does this say?

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/