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Islamic State seeks news blackout in Mosul as Iraqi army nears

For Iraqis living in the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul, news is dwindling about the U.S.-backed army massing to the south for an assault on the city that could begin this year. Soon after Iraqi forces established a foothold in the Makhmour area in February, about 60 km (40 miles) from the northern city, the […]

In Iraq, relief after news of Blackwater convictions

Adel Ali Mehdi was tending his refreshments kiosk on Baghdad’s Nisour Square on Thursday when one of his regular customers stopped by with some important news: After seven years, Blackwater security contractors who had opened fire on the square had been convicted. Seventeen Iraqis were killed in that fusillade, and the customer, Hassan Jaber Salman, […]

Op-Ed: Why Kurdish Media Must Reform

The recent election in Iraqi Kurdistan ushered in a new era for the region’s media, posing fresh challenges for news organisations, the government and the parliament.

Genel, GKP gain on KRG news

Genel Energy Plc (GENL) and Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd. (GKP) rose in London trading after Iraq’s central government and the semi-autonomous Kurdish region reached an agreement to end an oil revenue dispute. Genel gained 3.7 percent, the most since Aug. 14, to 731 pence. Gulf Keystone rose 6.2 percent to 234.8 pence.

‘We usually cry when we watch the news’: anguish of Iraq’s Yazidi families

When Laila learnt Islamic State was holding her son in an old school less than 100 miles from the refugee camp she now calls home, she could start to dream of a rescue attempt. Then, when she heard troops were advancing on the group’s last stronghold in Iraq, she even allowed herself to believe they […]

BREAKING NEWS: KRG signs 4 new Production Sharing Contracts

The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq announced Tuesday morning it has signed four additional production sharing contracts and deals for two new oil refineries. Two of the PSCs have been named: one to Heritage Energy Middle East Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canadian firm Heritage Oil & Gas; the other to Perenco Kurdistan […]

U.S. watchdog cites KBR, U.S. and Iraq governments for poor south oil reconstruction

Plus: *Obama and Iraq *More Iraq oil news *Oil, Transport and Port workers meet for "Well-to-Wheel" in Amman *Pentagon Report: Iraqis lack basic services, fueling discontent *Basra and the ballot * War News Radio: On the Move, Iraq’s displaced families *Iraq Press Roundup * Alive in Baghdad: Ashura, A Sign of the Times A new […]

Australia’s Oil Search announces stake in Iraqi Kurdistan PSA…

Plus: *Power outages and supplies *Road Map for Iraq Oil Industry *Western Zagros announces KRG drilling *Alive in Baghdad: Locals Bring Security to Adhamiya *War News Radio: Iraq Out Of Work *Much, much more… Oil Search announced Tuesday it signed into an 18.75 percent working interest/15 percent revenue interest in a production sharing agreement in […]

Dispute arises over accusation Iran is stealing Iraq oil from field, involved in smuggling …

Plus: *Oil Majors get special crude instead of cash deal for upcoming oil deals *Iraq-Jordan oil import deal solidifies *Smugglers near Baiji set pipeline ablaze *Oil union leader keys British anti-war tour *Iraq sends delegation to Qatar for gas cooperation *Italy’s Edison, Shell want into Iraq gas too *Turkish op-ed denies cutting N. Iraq’s electricity […]

What is the US’s Energy Fusion Cell, and where have they been all this war?…

There's optimism in Iraq, at least from a mysterious cadre called the Energy Fusion Cell, which for the past eight months worked to bring coherence to both U.S. and Iraqi initiatives in the oil, gas and power sectors -- the backbone of its citizens' quality of life and the bulk of the national budget. It's […]

Shell opens secret Baghdad office

Plus: *A needed debrief of the Shell gas project *Iraq oil exports drop *U.S. loses $13 billion in Iraq reconstruction funds *KRG inks power deal, puts wind and hydro to tender *Night lights in Baghdad neighborhood *Parliament Elections: Sunni tribal elders, Moqtada Sadr to run *Iraq Press Roundup *Much more Hits and Misses of Shell-Iraq […]

Iraq’s oil in the north could face Turkey’s wrath

While Turkey's government decides whether to enter Iraq in response to ongoing attacks blamed on Kurdish separatists hiding in the northern Iraq mountains, Iraq's oil sector pumps, and waits. Oil skyrocketed to $88 at one point Tuesday, before declining a few dollars, as concerns over global oil supplies and a new Iraq war strike nerves. […]

Basra break in violence allows oil workers to leave, head to work…

Plus: *The State of Basra *Crescent Petroleum sponsors Iraqi universities in oil confab *Oil deals unlikely for months *Iraq war drains U.S. budget for fuel *Iraqi parties prevent ban on honor killing *Japan-Iraq collaboration A lull in fighting in the oil-rich province of Basra allowed oil field workers to return to work, ensuring output of […]

DNO expands Tawke oil contract area in Iraq Kurdistan region

Plus: *DNO nearer to export oil *IMF gives Iraq marks on economy *Basra power plant up and running *Rumors over Maliki future *Alive in Baghdad: Sadr City *Much more Norway's DNO will expand its successful Tawke project in northern Iraq, moving closer to being able to export oil via pipeline, Ben Lando reports for United […]

Q&A: Shell’s Iraq VP Hans Nijkamp

The head of Shell's Iraq operations discusses the criticism of its multi-billion-dollar gas deal, the status of its oil field development, and its long-term strategy.

Attacks on oil and power sector continue, workers targeted … Kirkuk-Baiji line bombed … Women in Basra risk death by religious fundamentalists …

There have been nearly 600 pipeline attacks in Iraq since March 2003, though recent security strategies have allowed additional flow in the northern pipeline. Attacks are also increasing in the power sector, especially among workers being targeted, according to an assessment from March 2003 to Nov. 17, 2007, made for United Press International by an […]

Car bomb explosion in Iraq kills youth national soccer team player

An up-and-coming Iraqi soccer player was killed on his way to practice when a car bomb exploded in eastern Baghdad on Monday, according to various reports and the English-language Twitter account for news from Iraq’s Football Association. Mahdi Abdul Zahra, 19, played on Iraq’s under-23 team and on the Iraqi Premier League team Kahraba’ FC. […]

Iraq oil not part of OPEC cuts

Iraq not bound by quota; struggling to reverse decline Plus: *Walid Khadduri on the return of Big Oil to Iraq *Iraq presidency council gives oil smuggling law OK *SOFA Update: English text and analysis *Labor Minister target of suicide bomb *Iraqis suffer for lack of basic services *The Mahdi Army bides its time *Much more […]

Iraq Oil Ministry extends deadline for pipeline to and from Iran…

Plus: *John McCain and the confusion over war and oil *Children at War -- two looks by War News Radio and Alive in Baghdad *Turkey, Iraq's Kurds and the PKK *Iraq Press Roundup *Much, Much more... Iraq's Oil Ministry has extended the deadline for companies to submit plans to design and supply the equipment for […]

Pipeline blast in southern Iraq fixed, oil flow rerouted …

*But danger looms as workers can’t get to work *Those at stations since Tuesday running out of supplies, food and sleep *Basra violence threatens oil investment *Recap of violence from Basra to Baghdad *Port workers say military aims is to privatize *Humanitarian aid desperately needed but unable to reach Basra *KRG posts electricity tenders Iraq […]

Iraq oil exports and revenue up, but production is down…

Plus: *Fighting in Basra, Iraq’s oil capital *Oil flow not affected, ministry says *Likely outcome troubling for violence and politics *Chevron ready for Iraq deals *Lukoil says West Qurna progress *Workers poisoned at water plant needed for oil sector *CS Monitor marks Five Years in Iraq *Turkey vs. Kurds in … Basra? *Iraq’s female detainees […]

Turkey’s president forces U.S. to choose between it and Iraq’s Kurds over oil-rich Kirkuk and the PKK …

Plus: *Iraq oil ends '07 with good and it's-been-worse news *Oil law update *What Turkey wants *Iraqi solutions, U.S. problems *much more.... Turkey's president made it clear during his visit to Washington this week that his country will continue a hard-line approach in dealing with the Kurdish guerrilla campaign in his country and ensuring Kirkuk, […]