Politics

Northern exports stalled by Baghdad-Erbil disputes

With southern oil exports choked off by war, Baghdad cannot use its only backup pipeline route because of a fight with the KRG over customs revenue control.

Oil tanks at Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, which is run by state-owned Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS). (UMIT BEKTAS/Reuters)

Mar 17, 2008

U.S. economic chief in Iraq: Oil law stalled by politics, not technical, but Iraq has $2.5B for short term plan and PSAs for long term…

Plus: *Iraq oil fuels insurgency, funds militias, corruption *Baiji refinery power outage; Najaf refinery doubled *Iraq 5 years after invasion *Baghdad ballet school open *Basra development board meets in Kuwait *Winter Soldier Iraq's oil law debate is political, not technical, a top U.S. official said, adding Iraq has tagged billions of dollars to boost oil […]

Mar 14, 2008

International Women’s Day issue: Women in Iraq hit hardest by war, face deadly duo of violence and religious fundamentalism in politics…

Iraq's ambassador to the United States, Samir Sumaida'ie, began his welcome to the International Women's Day celebration he was hosting this week not with the praises for his countrywomen, but with a moment of silence. Guests packed into the embassy reception hall bowed their heads -- some covered in the Muslim hijab, most not -- […]

Mar 13, 2008

Pentagon report: Iraq oil law, related laws stuck; Progress in oil and electricity sectors not necessarily sustainable…

A Pentagon report says four key oil-related laws in Iraq are "stalled" in political gridlock while gains in oil and power production could be lost, Ben Lando reports for United Press International. The quarterly report to Congress, "Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq," released Tuesday, said the law commonly known as the oil law is […]

Mar 7, 2008

Key U.S. Senate committee wants answers to Iraq investment in own reconstruction …

Plus: *KBR, owner of 2002 rebuild Iraq oil deal, shirks patriotic duty to pay taxes *Gulf Keystone, partners, start KRG seismic *Women’s Day in Iraq *Iraq’s Three Civil Wars *Iraq assessment to be kept private *U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Crocker to resign The head of the Senate Armed Services Committee wants U.S. auditors to investigate […]

Feb 29, 2008

Iraq-Turkey-U.S. talks begin in Istanbul on developing Iraq’s gas …

Plus: *Iraq-Big Oil negotiations on technical support deals stalled *115 international oil firms register for Iraq's oil deals *Addax brings PSC in line with Kurds' oil law *Iran to send 200 megawatts to Iraq The third official energy meeting involving Iraqi, Turkish and U.S. officials began Friday in Istanbul, and though a top State Department […]

Feb 28, 2008

Iraq’s oil law, KRG vs. Baghdad and making deals on their own and what is Iraq’s oil potential…

Plus: *Iraqi Kurds, Iraqi Arabs, Washington and Ankara square up over the Turkish invasion into northern Iraq *Kirkuk pipeline to Turkey stops *Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq challenged in southern provincial strongholds *Iraq Press Roundup *Much, much more… Iraq's draft oil law is stalled in Parliament, the national government and Kurdistan Regional Government are moving […]

Feb 27, 2008

Today’s Iraq Oil Report is a cultural and political wrap-up, still vital information if you’re following Iraq’s oil sector.

Iraq’s Kurdish government says it will allow its security forces to confront Turkey if the Turkish troops chase Kurdish separatists into civilian areas, Asso Ahmed and Tina Susman report for the Los Angeles Times. Turkish troops are digging deeper into Iraq territory, John Affleck reports for The Associated Press. And violence in the rest of […]

Feb 26, 2008

Iraq, Turkey and U.S. to hold trilateral energy talks in Istanbul next month…

Plus: *Latest on the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq *Iraq oil experts meet in Paris *Electricity workers, ministry agree to talk after sit-ins *The Iraq Press Roundup *Much, much more… (Editor’s Note: Apologies to Iraq Oil Report’s subscribers who have received messages in triplicate over the past two days. IOR has resolved a problem with […]

Feb 24, 2008

International actions urge against Iraq oil law, say no good oil decisions can be made under occupation…

Plus: *A recap of Iraq’s current and potential oil sector *Petrel Resources gets Iraq oil extension, ready for bids *Reliance Industries staying out *Electricity Ministry demands more money to provide power *Much, much more… A coalition of U.S. veterans, unions and activists, who fear Iraq’s draft oil law is part of an orchestrated effort to […]

Feb 21, 2008

Iraq and Iran meet in Tehran this week to discuss first Gulf War leftovers, including oil, border disputes and mines…

Plus: *Status of the oil law update *Oil Minister Shahristani on CNN Marketplace Middle East *Corruption enemy #1 *Journalists in Basra allege South Oil Company and other security forces abuse *Baghdad takes page from Giuliani’s NYC book in dealing with poor, homeless *The Baghdad-Basra express restarts A senior Iraqi delegation in Iran isn't directly focused […]