Cursor International executes projects and collaboration activities across several industries.
By John Lee.
The National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) has reportedly cut supplies of gas to Iraq due to Iraq’s arrears of more than $6 billion.
According to Reuters, Iran’s Energy Minister is scheduled to visit Baghdad on Tuesday to discuss the matter.
(Sources: Shana, Reuters)
The post Iran Cuts Gas to Iraq due to Unpaid Bills first appeared on Iraq Business News.
Sweden reaffirms partnership with UNDP to support vulnerable Iraqis
The Government of Sweden, represented by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a three-year, SEK 140 million* (US$ 16.4 million) agreement to further support vulnerable communities in Iraq.
Sweden’s contribution will be channelled through UNDP’s Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS), which implements fast-track initiatives in areas liberated from ISIL. This is Sweden’s sixth contribution to UNDP’s FFS, bringing its total support to US$60.5 million, since the Facility was founded in 2015.
Based on stabilization priorities identified by national counterparts, FFS works to quickly restore essential public infrastructure, provides short-term employment opportunities, boost local livelihoods and economies, capacity support, and facilitates peaceful reconciliation in communities liberated from ISIL.
“This month marks three years since Iraq was officially liberated from ISIL. Yet 1.28 million Iraqis remain displaced. Our support to Iraqi authorities and citizens is critical to meet the needs of internally displaced persons returning to their areas of origin, especially considering the disproportionately negative impact of COVID-19 on these vulnerable groups,” says the UNDP Resident Representative for Iraq, Zena Ali Ahmad.
“We are extremely grateful to Sweden for this critical additional contribution, and its unwavering support to stability in Iraq,” adds Ms. Ali-Ahmad.
“Sweden remains committed to support the stabilization efforts in Iraq, especially in order to facilitate the return of remaining internally displaced persons. We emphasize the importance of gender equality, human rights and sustainable development in all of these programmes, including a conflict perspective promoting social cohesion in the communities,” says the Head of the MENA Division at Sida, Eva Gibson Smedberg.
With the support of 28 partners, including Sweden, FFS has completed over 2,650 stabilization projects in Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah al-Din, benefitting nearly 11 million people.
(Source: UN)
The post Sweden, UNDP supporting Vulnerable Iraqis first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By John Lee.
The Iraqi Cabinet has approved a refinery project with a capacity of 100,000 barrels per day in Dhi Qar province.
A Cabinet Spokesperson said the project will be implemented by three investment companies, but did not name them.
(Source: Govt of Iraq)
The post Cabinet approves New Refinery in Dhi Qar first appeared on Iraq Business News.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Environment, and in cooperation with Missan Governorate launched the Haweizah population support project for combatting climate change. The project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
The project was launched in Missan Governorate. Attendees included members from UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) as well as technical staff members of the Ministry of Health and Environment, representatives of the Governorate and local municipalities and Civil Society Organizations.
This two-year national project aims to support the marshland communities and enable them to withstand the risks associated with climate change that causes climatic disasters like recurrent droughts, which constitute a threat multiplier to the population. These droughts lead to a heightened poverty rates and migration due to water shortages and deteriorating environmental systems, which negatively affect peoples’ livelihoods.
The undersecretary of technical affairs at the Ministry of Health and Environment, Dr. Jasim Hamadi said:
“The Ministry, in cooperation with UNDP Iraq has endeavored to provide all the technical requirements to prepare the draft project document, based on our belief in the importance of these marshlands.
“We affirm our full commitment to this project to ensure that it will be a starting point for a genuine effort to support the marshland areas and their local communities by adopting new projects that aim to develop the socio-economic conditions of these areas, which are considered a significant cultural and environmental heritage not only to Iraq but also to the world.“
The project ensures innovative solutions for providing potable water to support the resettlement of the communities at Al-Huweizah marshlands. It also aims to promote livelihood diversification through development of eco-tourism, providing employment for women and youth, and building the capacities of the local staff and communities for operating water plants and activating women’s awareness, in addition to providing eco-tourism education that helps attract investment in the Governorate.
Missan Governor, Mr. Ali Dawai said:
“We expect that this project will be very successful, given that it directly targets and supports the local communities of Haweizah marshlands and provides an adequate environment to combat climate change.”
“The Missan Governorate is fully prepared to support and oversee this project to ensure its success, thanks to the services it will provide to the Marshland population.”
In her speech at the project launching workshop, Resident Representative of the UNDP Iraq, Zeina Ali Ahmad said:
“The subject of climate change is highly significant at present, and needs an immediate response from all countries to combat the changes in climate that can aggravate the suffering of the population and increase internal displacement and emigration.
“This project has been adopted to upgrade adaptability in the area, and its goals have been drafted to meet the needs of the local population and reduce displacement, targeting in particular the most vulnerable groups.“
The workshop was followed by an inaugural meeting of the project steering committee, through which the project action plan for 2021 has been presented. This action plan will be approved by the members after setting the priorities.
(Source: UN)
The post Combating Climate Change in Iraq first appeared on Iraq Business News.
Iraq will begin exporting fuel to Lebanon starting January 2021 at “global prices”, Minister of Oil Ihsan Abdul Jabbar announced.
Abdul Jabbar’s remarks came in a statement on Monday after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, Raymond Ghajar, in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad.
“Exported fuel will be part of a surplus over the Iraqi refineries’ current demand,” the minister pointed out, adding that the supply would be “limited and to be announced later.”
He noted that the exports were expected to cover the “requirements of the Lebanese power stations to generate electricity”, the Middle East Monitor reported.
On his part, Ghajar told reporters that the meeting had discussed an “expansion in bilateral relations between the two countries.”
Lebanon has been suffering from a severe lack of power for years, with most residential and commercial establishments dependent on generators.
(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)
The post Iraq to Export Fuel to Lebanon in 2021 first appeared on Iraq Business News.
Unearmarked funds from the Kingdom of Sweden help UNHCR meet the changing needs in Iraq
UNHCR welcomes the recent contribution of 9 million Swedish Krona (~ USD 1 million) towards UNHCR’s protection and assistance programmes to support vulnerable displaced persons in Iraq.
This is in addition to the 10 million Swedish Krona (~USD 1.17 million) previously granted towards UNHCR operations in Iraq, bringing Sweden’s total contribution in 2020 by the Kingdom of Sweden to 19 million Swedish Krona (~ USD 2.23 million).
Many communities include refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees, as well as host communities are struggling through a dire economic downturn. At a time when communities in Iraq were expecting stability and recovery, the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged and has further impacted vulnerable communities.
UNHCR and its partners moved promptly to adjust the response accordingly and ensure much needed humanitarian operations continued. This adjustment would not have been possible without the flexibility and generosity of donor countries, including the Kingdom of Sweden.
Flexible funding was vital again this month as UNHCR ramps up support to Iraqi returnees amid the large-scale closure of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps.
Together with partners, UNHCR accelerated its programme to release seasonal cash assistance to help newly returning families meet their immediate needs in the coming winter months and provide legal assistance to families to obtain civil and property documentation.
Mr. Lars Ronnås, the Ambassador of Sweden to Iraq stated:
“Humanitarian needs increase in Iraq. Every woman, man, girl and boy living in a dire situation should be given a chance to improve their living conditions. Right now, UNHCR’s efforts to save lives and alleviate suffering are highly valuable and important.”
Philippa Candler, UNHCR’s Representative, said:
“This generous and flexible contribution by the Kingdom of Sweden enables us to stand by vulnerable families when they need help the most, to provide them with the support and protection efficiently and in a timely manner.”
Sweden is one of UNHCR’s largest donors of unearmarked contributions. Such continued, unearmarked support from donors remains vital for millions of families as well as for stability and durable solutions in Iraq.
(Source: UN)
The post Sweden Increases Funding to UNHCR in Iraq first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By Al Monitor staff. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Iraq closes land borders, restaurants with new anti-virus measures
The Iraqi government announced a series of strict measures to combat COVID-19 on Tuesday.
All land border crossings, restaurants and malls will be closed for two weeks starting on Thursday, the federal government announced on Twitter.
Click here to read the full story.
The post COVID: Iraq Closes Land Borders, Restaurants first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad.
Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
The Refining Industry – Continued Misalignment amid Investment Illusion
More than fifteen years ago a new refinery-specific law was promulgated and then the Ministry of Oil-MoO paid millions of dollars for commissioned international consulting firms to undertake Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) and feasibility studies for a number of new refineries configured to produce petroleum derivatives in compliance with Euro 4/5 standard.
Many tacit objectives stood behind the move: modernize the refining sector to address initially domestic supply-demand misalignment (import substitution) and then export the surplus (export promotion).
All that to introduce a vertical structural diversification along the value-chain of petroleum (desirable structural change) and the new refineries should, mostly, executed through private investment, national or foreign (privatizing the refining industry).
When the FEED and feasibility studies were done, MoO organized promotional events to attract private investors for these new modern refineries and throughout the years many of the refineries went for repeated offering.
At end 2020, none of those refineries materializes despite of the many and high valued incentives and exemptions offered by the related investment laws. Surprisingly, the Ministry keeps déjà vu; reoffering and offering even more other new refineries for investment without any FEED or feasibility studies.
Recently, I published two-part essay written in Arabic, circulated widely and posted on many websites; the essay undertakes, in part one, comparative Gap Analysis, uses formal data, adheres to evidence-based approach and presents six facts (with Infographic) featuring the reality of the refining sector.
In part two, the essay argues that lack of planning, mismanagement, wrong policy orientation captured by private investment illusion and, possible, formidable “pressure interests” had contributed to this very serious failure of Iraq’ oil policy that keeps costing the country dearly, annually. The essay presents some suggestions to remedy the situation.
This article is premised on the findings of the said essay; it also demonstrates that refinery gap manifests chronic local production-demand misalignment as outcome of the technological configuration of the outdated refineries. It calls for careful important distinction between two types of refinery gap analysis: aggregate and product-specific to avoid misleading interpretation and wrong policy recommendations.
The article argues further that private investment illusion-PII causes the country dearly, through dual-capturing effects, due to delay in resolving refinery gap. All charts are based on formal monthly data retrieved from different credible sources and compiled tabulated and produced by this author.
Click here to download the full report in pdf format.
Mr Jiyad is an independent development consultant, scholar and Associate with the former Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES), London. He was formerly a senior economist with the Iraq National Oil Company and Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, Chief Expert for the Council of Ministers, Director at the Ministry of Trade, and International Specialist with UN organizations in Uganda, Sudan and Jordan. He is now based in Norway (Email: mou-jiya(at)online.no, Skype ID: Ahmed Mousa Jiyad). Read more of Mr Jiyad’s biography here.
The post Iraqi Refineries: Continued Misalignment amid Investment Illusion first appeared on Iraq Business News.
Dana Gas has announced the production of sales gas from Pearl Petroleum‘s Khor Mor Gas Plant in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) reached a new record level of 430MMscf/d on 15 December 2020.
Fourth quarter’s average gas production as of 15 December 2020 is 400MMscf/d, an 8% increase on Q4 2019’s average production of 370MMscf/d.
Pearl Petroleum has also restarted expansion plans in the KRI on the 15 December. This follows the suspension of work in March 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. All parties working on the project are fully committed to executing the expansion project as quickly and as safely as possible.
The Company expects to complete the first 250 MMscf/d gas processing train in Q1 2023 and is also examining ways to reduce the schedule further.
In line with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) commitment to review the outstanding December 2019 to February 2020 invoices totalling $30 million, Dana Gas notes Pearl Petroleum’s confirmation of receipt of a payment plan proposal from the KRG to pay down past receivables during 2021 as long as Brent remains above $50/bbl.
Pearl Petroleum continues to engage constructively with the KRG on this matter to ensure timely payment. The KRG has maintained regular monthly payments since March 2020.
Dr Patrick Allman-Ward, CEO of Dana Gas, commented:
“Our joint operations at Pearl Petroleum continue to set new records with production output whilst maintaining an excellent HSSE track record, validating our long-term strategy to concentrate on further developing our world-class fields in the KRI. We are getting tremendous support from the KRG, which has given us the green-light to restart the civil engineering works under strict health protocols and controls.
“This clears a major hurdle and puts us on a path for first gas from the new train in Q1 2023. I am also pleased to provide an update on our Q4 average gas production, which is 8% higher at 400MMscf/d than in the same period last year.
“In addition, our commitment and contribution to the people of the KRI remains as strong as ever. Our partnership is now in its 12th year. 2020 has been very challenging due to the restrictions imposed by the global pandemic but the team has worked tirelessly to keep our operations ongoing throughout the year, adhering to strict health and safety protocol to ensure the continuous flow of gas to power the KRI’s electricity needs.”
(Source: Dana Gas)
The post Khor Mor Gas Plant reaches Record Production first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By John Lee.
Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has announced initial oil exports for November of 81,262,376 barrels, giving an average for the month of 2.709 million barrels per day (bpd), down from the 2.876 million bpd exported in October.
These exports from the oilfields in central and southern Iraq amounted to approximately 78,190,444 barrels, while exports from Kirkuk amounted to 2,819,169 barrels. Exports to Jordan were 252,763 barrels.
Revenues for the month were $3.404 billion at an average price of $41.886 per barrel.
October‘s export figures can be found here.
(Source: Ministry of Oil)
The post Iraq Finalises Oil Exports for November first appeared on Iraq Business News.