Newly Appointed Iraqi Oil Minister Outlines Priorities

1 June 2004 Iraq’s newly appointed interim oil minister, Thamer al-Ghadban, aims to restructure his ministry and the companies under its umbrella, and to launch a number of long delayed oil development projects, he told Energy Intelligence Briefing on Tuesday, in his first interview after being sworn in. Al-Ghadban was named as part of the new interim government that will take over most of the power from the coalition occupation…

Iraqi Firm Forges Ahead With Drilling Plan Despite Potential War

27 February 2003 Unfazed by the current US military buildup and the potential risk to rigs from air raids or invading forces, Iraq’s Oil Drilling Co. (ODC) is forging ahead with drilling across the country’s oil fields in an attempt to beat its record of last year. But separate activities by foreign drillers under the UN’s oil-for-food program have been hit by the threat of war, with international companies either…