Issam al-Chalabi writes: “Iraq is a landlocked country with a narrow opening to the Gulf. That by itself has been the cause of many conflicts with neighbouring Iran and Kuwait, meaning that, in addition to utilizing its Gulf outlet, Iraq must send oil through other neighboring countries to provide additional and alternative export outlets. This again has been a source of political conflicts and confrontations ever since the commercial discovery…
Tag: Maliki
Iraq Watch – Zero-Sum Game
6 February 2009 Collapsing oil prices and dwindling revenues are forcing Iraq’s oil ministry to review the terms of the first bid round it launched last summer. After all, the state entity might not be able to finance a 51% carried interest in each of the six oil fields as stipulated in the bid round’s tender protocol and draft model contract. As a result, companies meeting ministry officials at a…
Oil Provinces Offer High Stakes in Iraqi Poll
30 January 2009 Iraqis go to the polls on Saturday to choose their local council representatives for the next four years, in the second such elections held in postwar Iraq. The outcome will reflect the balance of power between the major political parties across 14 of the country’s 18 provinces and give an indication of the shape of things to come as Iraq prepares for its next parliamentary elections, most…
Iraq to Establish Body to Speed up Awards
16 July 2008 The Iraqi government will soon submit a draft law to the legislative council on setting up a National Council for Reconstruction and Development tasked with speeding up contract awards for strategic projects, including oil field development contracts, a senior Iraqi official said Tuesday. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Monday that the cabinet had endorsed the new body on Jul. 13. He will preside over the council,…