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Energy

Iraqi oil exports stagnate at two-decade lows as wartime restrictions persist

April oil sales fell to one-twelfth of pre-war volumes as Basra exports restarted and stalled, and northern exports hit a plateau.
A worker checks the valve gears of pipes linked to oil tanks at Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, which is run by state-owned pipeline company Botas. (UMIT BEKTAS/Reuters)
Feb 8, 2013

Exxon hires ex-U.S. officials to navigate Iraq

Former American ambassador James Jeffrey is now advising ExxonMobil, which has also retained Condoleezza Rice, Stephen Hadley and other retired American officials to advise on Iraq.

Feb 5, 2013

Diyala seeks to reopen Iran crossing

In a bid to stimulate the province's economy, officials in Diyala have taken preparatory steps to reopen a border crossing with Iran that has been closed since the Iran-Iraq war started in 1980. Diyala Press Director Turath al-Azzawi said a provincial committee agreed to take "immediate measures" to help reopen the Sumer border crossing, near […]

Feb 5, 2013

Oil Ministry mulls Ceyhan storage

Iraq's Oil Ministry is considering the construction of state oil storage facilities at the Turkish port of Ceyhan, in order to maintain regular northward exports in the event of further pipeline attacks on either side of the Turkey-Iraq border. According to an official with the state-run North Oil Company (NOC), disruptions to oil exports caused […]

Feb 5, 2013

Awakening forces seek hiring

Awakening forces in Diyala province demanded that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki re-hire 600 personnel who had previously left the service. During the height of Iraq's civil war, the so-called Sunni Awakening was instrumental in stemming the tide of violence, as forces that had formerly been sympathetic to al-Qaida began to support the Iraqi state. Maliki […]

Feb 5, 2013

Dhi Qar fights artifact smuggling

Provincial and federal investigators are working to combat the rampant trafficking of ancient artifacts in Dhi Qar province. Authorities recently seized 233 different artifacts dating back to ancient times in the Fajr District of Dhi Qar, which is 160 kilometers north of the provincial capital of Nassiriya, according to Jamil Yusuf Shabeeb, the deputy chairman […]

Jan 28, 2013

Russia opens Basra consulate

Russia has re-opened its consulate in Basra, two decades after it closed amidst the fall of the Soviet Union. Russian Ambassador to Iraq Elijah Murgunov said the reopening of the consulate reflected the importance of his country's growing interests in the province. Murgunov noted "the presence of many Russian companies in the field of oil" […]

Jan 28, 2013

BGC ends worker feud

The newly formed Basra Gas Company (BGC) has ended a worker feud just as the joint venture begins formal operations. The BGC is composed of Iraq's state-run South Gas Company (51 percent), Royal Dutch Shell (44 percent) and Mitsubishi (5 percent), tasked with collecting and utilizing the associated gas from the Rumaila, West Qurna 1 […]

Jan 28, 2013

Kirkuk shelling targets NOC

Residents of an area of Kirkuk where North Oil Company (NOC) employees live are facing an increased barrage of attacks. A Kirkuk police official said three rockets were launched at the Arafa neighborhood, and another three rockets were found in the firing zone and are believed to be duds. "The neighborhood Arafa, west of the […]

Jan 28, 2013

Diyala against Iran power import

Local leaders in Diyala province are calling on the government to stop importing electricity from Iran, complaining of unreliable supply and frequent outages. "Most cities of Diyala pay a high price because the bad electricity supply from Iran cuts off for long hours," said community leader Salim Karim al-Shammari, adding that the problem was "creating […]