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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)
Jan 24, 2008

Talks on Iraq’s oil disputes not officially happening …

Plus: *Iraq oil exports up last year *But the northern pipeline is down *And last week production dropped *Oil Minister in Davos says OPEC output OK *Babil province talking tough over blackouts Despite rumors that oil law negotiations were going to restart, it appears not so, United Press International reports. The Kurdistan Regional Government and […]

Jan 23, 2008

Are Baghdad-Kurd talks on oil issues about to start again?…

Plus: *Oil from Kirkuk expected to restart soon *National Security chief survives ambush *What's in a flag? *New Baath law reservations *more... Iraq's Kurdish oil leaders are in Baghdad to clear an impasse over oil control, though the national oil minister is reportedly not in town. That could be the point, since some Kurdish leaders […]

Jan 18, 2008

U.S. audit can’t determine how much Iraq ministries spent on capital projects ….

Plus: *Oil Ministry cracks down more on oil firms signing deals with Kurds *Kirkuk pipeline cutting short planned oil sales *Oil refineries, power plants have a bad week *Much, much more… Iraq's Oil Ministry spent $558 million on capital projects in 2007 to improve its struggling oil sector. Or $500 million. Or only $270,000. A […]

Jan 15, 2008

New anti-Kurd oil deal block has majority in Parliament …

Plus: *Kurd leader Barzani says Kirkuk vote a must *Who supports Shahristani on the KRG deals? *$558M spent in Iraq oil sector, but no details, no transparency *U.S. blamed for Basra refinery fire *The Iraq Press Roundup *and More A majority of Iraq's parliamentarians have signed an agreement against Iraqi Kurds' moves to unilaterally develop […]

Jan 14, 2008

Turkey FM: Iraq war is about oil …

Plus: *New coalition targets Kurds' oil deals, Kurd/Shiite autonomy *Baghdad against Kurd-deal companies, Kurds want Oil Minister out *Oil unions press for new labor law *Country suffers from power outage Turkey's Finance Minister said the U.S. invaded Iraq for its oil, United Press International reports. "The guy from miles away is invading Iraq claiming to […]

Jan 5, 2008

Iraq’s oil capitals Basra and Kirkuk have six-month make-or-break window in 2008 …

Plus: *Kirkuk oil stopped, Ceyhan filled *Future of Kirkuk *Baghdad Park Bridges Sectarian Divide *Much, much more Iraq's crude capital, Basra, and perhaps its most controversial city, Kirkuk, also flush with oil, face a formidable 2008. The futures of both depend on how the post-2003 power vacuum plays out, though the latter could be settled […]

Dec 30, 2007

Iraq northern oil allegedly travelling through Talabani-controlled KRG and into Iran

Plus: • South Korea weighs deals between Baghdad or Irbil • Iraq oil sales bring in nearly $5 billion in November Iraq oil produced by the Norwegian firm DNO, via a production sharing contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government, is allegedly being shipped on truck to Iran. The oil from the Tawke field, from one […]

Dec 28, 2007

Interview: Iraqi Kurdistan’s coordinator for U.N. missions … Iraqi oil capital Basra faces tough new year … Kurds make deal with Sunni Arabs … Pentagon to make example of journalist: treat like terrorist …

There is one Iraq, but there are also two: the northern, potentially oil-rich region controlled by Iraq's Kurds, and the rest of Iraq. That, says the Kurdish liaison to U.N. efforts in Iraqi Kurdistan, is how the international community should view it. "We say Iraq could not be treated as one simple state," said Dindar […]

Dec 20, 2007

Kurds threaten to break from coalition government in Baghdad … UNSC and IMF give another year in Iraq … The future of Basra …

The success of the coalition government in Baghdad has always demanded a Kurdish presence, which has prevented Shiite and Sunni Arab political parties from criticizing the northern region, especially for their oil sector moves. But lately this has changed, with political leaders claiming the Kurdistan Regional Governments oil deals need to be addressed. A hearing […]