Ashti Hawrami

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s minister of natural resources, Ashti Hawrami, spoke to Ruba Husari in Erbil late July on the latest developments in Kurdistan’s upstream and downstream sector, the smuggling controversy, differences with Baghdad over crude exports and the fate of the federal hydrocarbon law. Q. What’s the status of the different contracts signed so far with the KRG and how is work progressing on the ground? A. We have…

Iraq’s Oil Ministry and KRG Hold Talks on Oil Export Schemes

14 October 2008 Iraq’s oil ministry and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have held talks in recent weeks that could pave the way to export oil produced in the northern region by international oil companies. They could also possibly open the way for an agreement between the federal government and the KRG on the contested production sharing contracts awarded by the KRG in recent years, Iraqi sources said In the…

Iraq Nears Support Deals With Oil Majors

15 April 2008 Iraq’s oil ministry expects to sign two deals with two oil majors by the end of the month under the technical support contracts framework approved recently by the Iraqi cabinet, with two other deals expected to follow shortly afterward, Iraqi oil sources told International Oil Daily Monday. The ministry has also named 35 international oil companies it said have prequalified to bid in the upcoming licensing round…

Sharing The Wealth

22 June 2007 After weeks of haggling and tough bargaining, Iraq’s central government and the northern Kurdish region have agreed a draft revenue-sharing law — opening the way for parliament’s approval of a hydrocarbon law regulating international investments in Iraqi oil and gas fields. The draft revenue law is a compromise that ensures the Kurds get an adequate and timely share of state revenues, but keeps the collection and distribution…