A conference to discuss the ailements of the Iraqi oil sector was held in Baghdad in late February with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his deputy Barham Salih publicly putting their weight behind finding practical solutions to the troubled sector and stop the decline in oil production in oil fields in southern Iraq. The question we ask: Are there practical and short term solutions to the problems suffered by the sector over…
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: Contract Labyrinth
19 December 2008 Iraq’s latest draft model contract for its first postwar bid round, recently made available to participating firms, has failed to bridge the gap between the oil ministry and international oil companies, analysis of the latest text reveals. The two sides may struggle to narrow their differences in the short time frame announced by Baghdad, which aims to publish the final technical service contract by April 2009 and…
Iraq: Debating the Model
5 September 2008 Since launching its first postwar licensing round in late June, Iraq’s leadership has been struggling to reach a consensus on what commercial terms would best protect long-term national interests while offering quick and efficient solutions for an oil industry worn down by years of war, sanctions and scant resources. The main issue arising from the internal debate is who should operate oil fields — the national oil…