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Politics

Deadly political divisions raise risks for Kurdistan

Rivalries between political leaders in Sulaimaniya have exploded into violence and undermined relations between Iraqi Kurdistan’s two ruling parties at a key political moment.
Bafel Talabani (left) and Lahur Talabany (right) at a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party gathering on June 15, 2021. (Source: PUK Media)
Dec 3, 2007

Back to Baghdad: KRG to answer oil deal questions in front of Parliament

This week appears to be a buzz in Baghdad with KRG passing up meetings with oil officials in Texas to be there. The oil minister of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government cut short his U.S. visit to head to Baghdad, where Parliament this week is to question him on the 20 oil deals the KRG has […]

Nov 30, 2007

Leader of Iraq oil workers says Iraqis can increase production, with limited help from outsider if need be, but Baghdad refuses to spend the capital …

The leader of Iraq's oil workers, attending an anti-war conference here, says Iraq could be producing more oil by investing its own money, without an oil law or large scale foreign oil company involvement. "National expertise and resources are capable of enhancing production in the oil industry," Hassan Jumaa Awad, president of the umbrella Iraqi […]

Nov 27, 2007

Showdown: Baghdad vs. Irbil … Iraqi Kurds’ Oil Prerogatives … and more ….

*The Kurdish oil minister speaks his mind. *Shahristani: Kurds used military to prevent oil development by Baghdad *Kurds self sufficient and producing 1 million barrels in five years Iraqi Kurdistan's oil minister, Ashti Hawrami, begins his U.S. tour of political and business leaders from Washington to Texas a hot item with international oil companies, but […]

Nov 26, 2007

Oil makes the politics go round … Iraq’s political situation further fracturing … Bush and Maliki, best friends forever …

Iraq Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani has gone beyond simply calling the Kurdistan Regional Government’s oil deals "illegal." He has now reportedly "nullified" the dozens of contracts with international oil companies, AFP reports. Of course, political logistics are another matter. There’s only so much the Kurds need to take, considering without them the coalition government Shahristani […]

Nov 13, 2007

U.S. building military base to guard Iraq oil in Gulf

(Short post today, en route to Riyadh for the OPEC Summit) The U.S. is building a military installation at one of Iraq’s oil ports on the Gulf. Eventually, it is to be turned over to the Iraq Navy, Chip Cummins and Hassan Hafidh report for The Wall Street Journal. Their story also includes a good […]

Nov 12, 2007

TNK-BP affiliate one of 5 new oil deals with Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government

The KRG announced the deals Monday, five production sharing contracts with Norbest Limited, an affiliate of TNK-BP; a Korean National Oil Company-led consortium; Hillwood International Energy company HKN Energy; and with subsidiaries of UK-listed Sterling Energy LLC and Denver-based Aspect Energy LLC. Check out the KRG release. And, as always, Iraq Oil Report will have […]