Jumat, Oktober 31, 2008

U.S. paid $6 billion for Iraq private security

No one knows for sure, but auditors think the U.S. has paid well over $6 billion to private security companies who've been guarding diplomats, troops, Iraqi officials and reconstruction workers in Iraq.

The money amounts to about 12 percent of the $50 billion Americans are paying for reconstruction in the country, said Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen.

The figure, included in a report being released by Bowen's office today, is likely to be taken as the most authoritative accounting so far of what it has cost taxpayers to provide private security since 2003 in the violence-plagued nation.

It included bodyguards for diplomats and top commanders and guards for U.S. military bases, as well as for military supply convoys, contractors, subcontractors and others supporting the U.S. mission and military.

Also included were personal security details for high-ranking Iraqi officials, as well as security advice and planning costs.

There are likely more contractors Bowen has yet to count and so the $6 billion is almost certainly not the full picture, he said Wednesday.

His quarterly reconstruction report to Congress includes these findings:

  • More than $125.7 billion has now been committed to rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure and government since U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein's administration five years ago.
    Though all of that has not been spent, it includes $50.77 billion appropriated by the U.S., $57.96 billion in Iraqi funds and $17 billion pledged by other international donors, the bulk of it in the latter in loans and under $5.3 billion in grants.
  • Iraq's rule-of-law system remains broken, most evidenced by the fact that Iraqi judges continue to be assassinated across the country. In 2008, terrorists killed seven judges, compared to 11 killed in 2007 and bringing the number to more than 40 judges and family members since 2003.
  • A serious problem remains with corruption — which Bowen has long called a "second insurgency" in Iraq for the challenge it poses. For instance, auditors noted that a local contractor asked to be released from his work on three schools in Baghdad's Sadr City this quarter because he and his family were threatened when he refused repeated requests from government officials that he pay them bribes.
  • The United States has allocated nearly $25 billion to support training and equipping new Iraqi security forces and the justice system and spent more than $10 billion on Iraq infrastructure.
By PAULINE JELINEK ( Associated Press )

Rabu, Oktober 29, 2008

Turkey, Canada seek investment in Iraq

Turkey and Canada renewed its interest to open on Iraq economically and encourage its companies to invest in the country.

Turkish foreign trade minister, Korshad Tozman, and transportation minister who opened office of Turkish airways in Baghdad international airport, expressed his country's attempt to take part at Iraq's reconstruction and cooperation with local private sector by joint ventures.

Meanwhile, Canadian Ambassador in Iraq praised bilateral relations' level, as she confirmed at her meeting with Trade Minister, Abdulfalah Sodani, in his office that future will see more cooperation at all realms, particularly commercial and economic projects.

(Al-Sabaah)

Senin, Oktober 27, 2008

Chinese companies to install U.S. natural gas units

A group of Chinese companies will undertake the responsibility of installing natural gas generating units provided by GM Corporation.

“A delegation, led by a senior under secretary of state in the ministry, Eng. Raad al-Haris, will take part in a meeting to prepare for the Chinese companies’ arrival to install 55 natural gas generating units,” a spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, Aziz Sultan al-Shamri, told Aswat al-Iraq.

The U.S. company will provide the Chinese companies with all necessary equipment, Shamri explained.

(Voices of Iraq)

Chinese Energy Ministers visits Baghdad to start implementation of oil contact-spokesman

Iraq’s Ministry on Sunday announced the Chinese Energy would visit Iraq in November to activate service deal developing a giant oilfield in Wassit province.

“Chinese Energy Minister with a high-level delegation would visit Iraq in November to sign the contract of al-Ahdab oilfields” Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad told Aswat al-Iraq.

“The contact came into action after being endorsed by the council of Ministers in August, “he noted “The Chinese part must start installing the equipment in two months after approving the contract.

The Iraqi government and the China National Petroleum Corporation have signed a contract in Beijing that could be worth up to $3 billion.

Under this contract, the Chinese company will provide technical advisers, oil workers and equipment to help develop the al-Ahdab oil field southeast of Baghdad.

The spokesman highlighted “the oilfield production for three years would compensate the deterioration in Iraqi oil flow”

It is expected the oilfield production would reach 2000 oil barrel per day (bpd).

The 22-year contract is a renegotiated version of a 1997 agreement between China and Iraq under Saddam Hussein. The original contract included production-sharing rights, but under the new contract China will be paid for its services but will not share in profits.

The oil produced from the al-Ahdab field will help Iraq, a nation where electricity is in short supply; fuel a planned power plant that would be one of the largest in the country.

For China, the deal offers a lucrative foothold in one of the most oil-rich countries in the world.

(Voices of Iraq)

Minggu, Oktober 26, 2008

Diwaniya refinery opens in 2 weeks

The al-Diwaniya oil refinery will be inaugurated within the next couple of weeks with a capacity of 10,000 barrels per day (pbd) for each of its two units, according to a statement by the National Information Center on Sunday.

“The project comprises two units: the first one was completed by 100 percent while work on the second reached 50 percent, with a total production capacity of 10,000 bpd for each unit,” read the statement as received by Aswat al-Iraq.

The Diwaniya refinery produces oil and gas oil and the crude that produces benzene, it added.

(Voices of Iraq)

Kamis, Oktober 23, 2008

25B dinar bridge to be constructed in Wassit

A project to set up a bridge in Wassit province has been referred for implementation, a local media director said, noting that the total cost of the project will exceed 25 billion Iraqi dinars (1 U.S. dollar = 1,118 Iraqi dinars).

“Today, the contracts department referred the project of Badra al-Kabir bridge (90 km east of Kut) for implementation,” Majed al-Itabi told Aswat al-Iraq.

Financed through the 2008 supplementary budget, the project will take 900 days to complete, the official noted.

A Shiite province, Wassit, 180 km south of Baghdad, is in the east of the country. Its name comes from the Arabic word meaning “middle,” as it lies along the Tigris about midway between Baghdad and Basra.

Its major cities include the capital, al-Kut, and al-Hayy. Prior to 1976 it was known as Kut Province.

(Voices of Iraq)

Over 49 million oil barrels exported in Sept.

Iraq has exported more than 49 million barrels of crude oil throughout last month, a spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil said.

“The Ministry of Oil exported 49.3 million barrels with total revenue of $4.214 billion,” Aasem Jihad told Aswat al-Iraq.

The average price was $85.477 a barrel, Jihad explained, noting that 39.7 million barrels were exported via the southern Khour al-Zubeir and al-Ammiya ports.

The crude has been sold to 19 companies from Asia, Europe and the United States, he added.

(Voices of Iraq)

Selasa, Oktober 21, 2008

Water network set up in Basra

Work has initiated on a project to establish a water network in downtown Basra city at a cost of 407 million Iraqi dinars, the head of Basra’s construction unit said on Tuesday.

“Water pipes will be installed in the street linking al-Fayhaa Hospital to al-Muwafaqiya intersection in downtown Basra,” Ziyad Ali Fadil told Aswat al-Iraq.

Work on the project will take approximately four months, Fadil explained, adding that it will be carried out by a local company.

Basra, 590 km (340 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, has an estimated metropolitan population of 2,300,000 in 2008.

Basra, a Shiite province with 20% of the population are Sunnis, is the cradle of the first civilization of Sumer. It has the seven main Iraqi ports. The first built in Islam 14 A.H. (After Hegira), the city played an important role in early Islamic history.

The area surrounding Basra has substantial petroleum resources and many oil wells. The city’s oil refinery has a production capacity of about 140,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The only Iraqi outlet to the sea, Basra is in a fertile agricultural region, with major products including rice, maize corn, barley, pearl millet, wheat and dates as well as livestock.

A network of canals flowed through the city, giving it the nickname “The Venice of the Middle East” at least at high tide.

The only Iraqi outlet to the sea, Basra has the commercial ports of Iraq.

(Voices of Iraq)

Senin, Oktober 20, 2008

Kurdistan capable of exporting 100,000 bpd- PM

Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Nejervan al-Barazani said that his region is currently able to export 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil.

The remarks were made during Barazani’s reception of a German businessmen delegation on Sunday evening at the luxurious Khanzad Hotel (25 km east of Arbil city) and in the presence of the German ambassador in Baghdad, Christopher Weil.

A high-ranking delegation headed by the president of Iraq’s Kurdistan is currently negotiating controversial issues with the central government in the capital Baghdad.

The German delegation comprised representatives of 40 companies, businessmen and traders.

Arbil, also written Erbil or Irbil, is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited in the world and is one of the largest cities in Iraq. The city lies eighty kilometers (fifty miles) east of Mosul. In 2005, its estimated population was 990,000 inhabitants. The city is the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). It hosts the headquarters of the Kurdistan region ministers and parliament.

Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, only isolated, sporadic violence has hit Arbil, unlike many other areas of Iraq. Parallel bomb attacks against the Eid celebrations arranged by the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and KRG President Massoud Barazani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) killed 109 people on February 1, 2004. Responsibility was claimed by the Islamist group Ansar al-Sunnah, and stated to be in solidarity with the Kurdish Islamist faction Ansar al-Islam. Another bombing on May 4, 2005 killed 60 civilians. Despite these bombings the population generally feels safe.

(Voices of Iraq)

Allocating ID54 b for 'Amara municipal projects

Mayssan province has allocated ID54 billions to accomplish several service projects implemented by Amara Municipality Directorate within 2008 complementary budget.

Amara Municipality Director, Senior Eng. Ali Hasson for as-Sabah reporter: these sums are allocated to continue 2nd phase projects of Amara after technical and engineering cadres accomplished first phases of reconstruction with cost of ID40 billions which include the paving Irrigation Cornish St., Ur and Nafat streets, industrial al-Askan district, as well as establishing sidewalks in the districts included with sewers, rain water nets and potable waters in al-Khadra, Islamic Wahda, Abu Romana, al-Aofia and Said Ashour districts.

(Al-Sabaah)

Follow-up committee to monitor reconstruction projects

The Iraqi government has decided to set up a follow-up committee to monitor and stimulate the progress of the implementation of reconstruction projects all over the country, a spokesperson for the Fardh al-Qanoon plan said.

“Most of reconstructions plans developed by the Iraqi government are currently underway. It has decided to make for the delay in reconstruction operations, which was the result of military operations and violence that hit several areas in Baghdad and other provinces,” Tahseen al-Shaikhali said during a Baghdad-based joint press conference with a spokesperson for the Multi-National Force (MNF).

When asked about scheduled projects in Baghdad’s eastern city of al-Sadr, the spokesperson said that an amount of 70 billion Iraqi dinars (1 U.S. dollar= 1,118 Iraqi dinars) has been allocated for the establishment of 1,000 housing units in Kasra area, in addition to polyclinics and a blood bank.

(Voices of Iraq)

Iraq’s debts to be slashed by end of 2008

A deal to cancel the remaining balance of Iraq’s external debts has been approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a media source from the Iraqi Ministry of Finance said on Saturday.

“Today, Finance Minister Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi met in New York with the head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who informed him that the fund will submit a report to the Paris Club by the end of the current year to forgive Iraq’s remaining exterior debts, around 20 percent ($30 billion) of the 80 percent reduction in debts,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq.

The source quoted the Iraqi minister as saying that he is working with advisors and officials to reconsider some budget allocations and to reduce the current expenditure in an attempt to cut the budget deficit.

The Paris Club is an informal group of financial officials from 19 of the world’s richest countries, which provides financial services such as debt restructuring, debt relief, and debt cancellation to indebted countries and their creditors. Debtors are often recommended by the International Monetary Fund after alternative solutions have failed.

(Voices of Iraq)

Minggu, Oktober 19, 2008

Chinese oil delegation in Wassit

A Chinese oil delegation on Sunday arrived in Wassit province ahead of preparations for development work on al-Ahdab oilfield, a local media director said.

“Today, an oil delegation from a Chinese company visited the province and met with its mayor to kick-start preparations for work on site,” Majed al-Itabi told Aswat al-Iraq.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of the Chinese company expressed his country’s readiness to develop the field and to sign a contract with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil “within the coming days.”

Al-Ahdab oilfield, in the al-Ahrar district, 25 km west of Kut city, is one of Iraq’s recently explored oilfields that, if developed, is expected to hit 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) in capacity.
Discovered in the year 1979, the oilfield boasts a reserve of 225 million barrels of crude oil.

A Shiite province, Wassit, 180 km south of Baghdad, is in the east of the country. Its name comes from the Arabic word meaning “middle,” as it lies along the Tigris about midway between Baghdad and Basra.

Its major cities include the capital, al-Kut, and al-Hayy. Prior to 1976 it was known as Kut Province.

(Voices of Iraq)

Basra’s Qarna project launched

Work initiated on a project to rehabilitate and develop the entrance to Basra’s district of Qarna at a total cost of 941 million Iraqi dinars, the head of the reconstruction unit in northern Basra said on Sunday.

The estimated completion period of the project is five months, Hikmat Abdelhay told Aswat al-Iraq, adding that it is being carried out by a local company.

Basra, 590 km (340 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, has an estimated metropolitan population of 2,300,000 in 2008.

Basra, a Shiite province with 20% of the population are Sunnis, is the cradle of the first civilization of Sumer. It has the seven main Iraqi ports. The first built in Islam 14 A.H. (After Hegira), the city played an important role in early Islamic history.

The area surrounding Basra has substantial petroleum resources and many oil wells. The city’s oil refinery has a production capacity of about 140,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The only Iraqi outlet to the sea, Basra is in a fertile agricultural region, with major products including rice, maize corn, barley, pearl millet, wheat and dates as well as livestock.

A network of canals flowed through the city, giving it the nickname “The Venice of the Middle East” at least at high tide.

The only Iraqi outlet to the sea, Basra has the commercial ports of Iraq.

(Voices of Iraq)

Sabtu, Oktober 18, 2008

Omani firm to sign investment contracts in Diwaniya next week

Next week will see the signing of a contract with an Omani company to set up a number of projects in al-Diwaniya, the province governor, Hamed al-Khodari, said on Saturday.

“The Omani company al-Taher will sign a contract next week to build a trade center under the name Diwaniya Mall over an area of 40,000 square meters, including a large parking lot and a fuel station, in the central part of the city,” Khodari told Aswat al-Iraq, not revealing the costs of these projects.

“The Omani delegation will get abreast of other investment fields, namely housing, energy and tourism, to consider ventures in the province,” he added.

Diwaniya lies 180 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

(Voices of Iraq)

Bahraini FM: Iraq’s debts should be written off

The Bahraini foreign minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed al-Khalifa on Saturday called to cancel Iraq’s debts during his visit to the capital Baghdad.

“We came to develop relations with Iraq, which we always seek to support,” the Bahraini official said during a Baghdad-based joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Hoshyar Zibari.

“The Kingdom of Bahrain invited the Iraqi president and the prime minister to visit Manama,” Khalifa noted.

Earlier today, Khalifa arrived on an unannounced visit to the Iraqi capital and was received at the airport by his Iraqi counterpart and an under-secretary of state for foreign affairs, Labeed Abbawi.

When asked about the reasons behind the delay in the reopening of the Bahraini embassy in Iraq, Khalifa said that his country has never hesitated to take this step, unless for security reasons.

On Thursday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani received the credentials of the ambassadors of Jordan, Syria, Bahrain, and Spain to Iraq.

(Voices of Iraq)

Jumat, Oktober 17, 2008

Abu Dhabi developer launches first large-scale Iraq project

Abu Dhabi-based real estate investment company Al Maabar announced this week that it planned to launch a $10bn project in Baghdad, the first real estate project of this scale to be unveiled in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.

The company is backed by all four major Abu Dhabi developers; Aldar, Sorouh, Reem and Al Qudra, and the announcement comes hot on the heels of a surprise official visit to the Iraqi capital by the emirate's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The $10bn investment is the largest foreign financial real estate project to be unveiled in Iraq. It is planned as a mixed-use facility, including specific residential sectors, a commercial district and a hospitality district with a number of hotels and entertainment facilities including a theatre cinema and golf course.

The planned area will cover 1,250 hectares in the centre of the city, and, following guidelines laid down by Baghdad authorities will also include non-commercial public facilities such as mosques.

'The move to develop this project complements the growing levels of support that the UAE is providing to the government of Iraq. Through the direction of the Abu Dhabi leadership, Al Maabar will add real value to the countries that it invests in,' said Yousef Al Nowais, Managing Director of Al Maabar at the unveiling of the project.

'Al Maabar plans to achieve this through job creation and talent development, knowledge transfer and economic stimulus and will be working very closely with the relevant ministries in Iraq to insure that this project meets the specific needs of the Iraqi people.'

Financial diversification

Al Maabar, which was launched by the backing companies as a vehicle for international projects, already has a range of planned developments outside of the UAE, including a $1bn luxury real estate complex planned outside of Marrakech, Morocco, and a development, Abu Dhabi Plaza, in Astana, Kazakhstan in conjunction with Aldar Properties.

The group also has projects that are either planned or underway in Libya, Tunisia, Syria, Jordan and Belarus.

Abu Dhabi's major real estate companies have all sought to diversify by investing in projects outside of the emirate, although at a much more sedate pace than developers in Dubai, a strategy that now appears wise given the possible contraction of liquidity in global luxury real estate projects.

Indeed, the majority of these involve sharing responsibility by entering into partnerships with global brands to launch developments in emerging markets including North Africa and Central Asia. Many of these also look beyond the traditional remit of UAE developers, which tend to seek out high-end luxury projects, and offer accommodation for local consumption, thus targeting an existent market.

Sorouh has a number of projects underway, including a mixed use residential and 850-unit hospitality development in Morocco targeting the top end of the market, and a residential project in Egypt for 40,000 residents that will look to offer a cross section of accommodation to the local market.

As well as the Astana project, Aldar recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Bahrain-based Cebarco, which will precede an arrangement to create a joint contracting venture for real estate projects across the region. The group is also already involved with the Iskandar project in Malaysia.

(AME Info FZ LLC)

Rabu, Oktober 15, 2008

Chinese oil delegation visits Iraq late Oct.

A high-level Chinese oil delegation is visiting Iraq late this month to sign a contract over al-Ahdab field, according to the official spokesman for the Iraqi oil ministry.

“The signing is pertaining to the development of al-Ahdab oilfield after the cabinet had initialed the deal last August and later ratified it in September,” Asem Jihad told Aswat al-Iraq.

“The contract has officially entered into effect after the cabinet approval and now the Chinese side has to start installing equipment and machines in two months’ time,” he said.

“The agreement held that drilling activities in this field have to be horizontal, not vertical, so that the oil wells would not encroach upon nearby farmlands,” Jihad pointed out.

The field, which includes seven discovered wells, is expected to produce 200,000 barrels per day (bpd), to be pumped through a pipeline to the al-Nassiriya pumping stations and then on to the export harbors in southern Iraq.

The ministry had recently embarked on a plan to attract foreign corporations to invest in Iraq’s oil sector with the aim of upping production to 4-405 million bpd by the advent of 2010, provided that the explored wells, numbering 80, are upgraded.Al-Ahdab lies in the district of al-Ahrar, (25 km) western Wassit province, 180 km southeast Baghdad.

One of Iraq’s wells that are not invested, al-Ahdabm if developed, will hopefully reach a production capacity of 200,000 bpd.At present, al-Ahdab oilfield, discovered in 1979, boasts a reserve of 225 million barrels.

(Voices of Iraq)

A conference in London for the competing companies to develop Iraqi oil fields

The Oil Ministry Spokesman said on Sunday that the Contracts and Licenses board in the ministry will hold a conference in London for the first permits session in the presence of the Minister of Oil and 35 international companies that won licenses to bid on the rehabilitation of Iraqi oil fields.

Assem Jihad said that "The ministry will hold a conference on Monday for the first licenses which were announced in the presence of Dr. Hussein al-Shahristani the Minister of Oil and the international companies that won the first licensing round of rehabilitation in London."

He added that "The conference will provide the qualified companies with the documents related to the fields that the ministry aims to develop, which they are North and South Rumaila fields, West Qurna, Albozorkan ,Abo Al Gharib and Fakkah in Maysan, as well as fields of Kirkuk and Bai Hassan, along with Gas fields of Akas and Al Mansuria."

He pointed out that the ministry is seeking to rehabilitate production to higher levels and had invited international companies to enter and compete in the first round of licensing.

The information spokesman continued , there were "120 global companies participated in the rehabilitation session, and 35 companies of various nationalities acquired the license for the rehabilitation of oil fields."

And he added "these companies will receive documents about the fields during the conference in the hope to submit their proposals in a short period and the offers will be decided by next summer."

The ministry had approved the rehabilitation of the companies that will compete to develop the fields, which won the first licensing round on the principle of company's gravity and finances and its work in the large similar fields to the production of Iraq's giant fields.

Jihad noted that it was hoped, "the results of the assignment contract next summer and declare the names of companies winning the best performances among the 35 companies that receive contracts papers tomorrow."

(Iraq Directory)

Selasa, Oktober 14, 2008

Iraqi - Japanese forum in Baghdad

Head of presidency divan Naseer al-Aani said that it is necessary to hold the annual economical conference about Iraq, in Baghdad at the beginning of the next year after security improvements in the country.

Aani emphasized during his meeting with Japanese charge d'affaires in Iraq, the necessity to hold this meeting in Iraq, and the importance of Japanese companies' participation in reconstruction process after the positive reflection of security improvements on international companies pursue to invest in Iraq.

(Al-Sabaah)

Senin, Oktober 13, 2008

$10 M to construct bridges, road in Muthanna

Three projects to set up two concrete bridges and a 12-km road have been initiated in Muthanna province at a cost of over 11.5 billion Iraqi dinars, a local official said on Monday.

“The bridges will be constructed in the districts of al-Majd and al-Sobar and the road will link al-Hilal district to the Shanafiya-Samawa intersection,” Engineer Kamel Maghoul Nino told Aswat al-Iraq.

The concrete al-Majd Bridge, on which work began early this month, is financed through a World Bank loan to Iraq, Nino said, noting that it lies on the Euphrates River and links al-Majd district to neighboring areas.

The bridge will help ease traffic congestion and will be completed within 24 months, Nino noted.

Work on another bridge on the Euphrates River (12 km southeast of Samawa city), with a scheduled completion period of 18 months, began a few days ago, he pointed out.

The third project is to establish a road at a cost of nearly $2.68 million, funded through a Japanese loan to Iraq and World Bank allocations.

The project is scheduled to be completed within 360 days, Nino added.

Muthanna, 280 km south of Baghdad, is bordering Saudi Arabia. Its capital is Samawa.

It was the first Iraqi province where security responsibilities were transferred from the Multi-National Force (MNF) to the Iraqis. On July 13, 2006 British, Australian, and Japanese forces handed over security responsibility for Muthanna province to Iraqi forces.

Prior to 1976 it was part of the al-Diwaniya province.

It also includes the ancient Sumerian ruin of Uruk, which is possibly the source of the name Iraq.

(Voices of Iraq)

$173 million for 224 new projects in Diwaniya

Diwaniya’s deputy governor for technical affairs on Monday said that 224 different services project were awarded in the province, according to the 2008 regions’ development budget, with a total cost of $173 million.

“The projects are related to the sectors of health, higher education, education, urban planning, mayoralties, electricity, sewage, water, roads and bridges, sports, water resources, and others,” Engineer Hazim Omran told Aswat al-Iraq.

Diwaniya city lies 180 km south of Baghdad.

(Voices of Iraq)

Al Maabar to develop $10b project in Baghdad

Al Maabar International Investments (Al Maabar), a real estate development company, will develop a $10 billion mixed use project in Baghdad.

The development, which is located at the Al Rasheed Military Compound, will stretch across 1,250 hectares and comprise several key clusters including residential units, a commercial district, a technology centre, a hotel and hospitality district, healthcare and educational districts, and public facilities such as mosques and petrol stations.
A proportion of the site will also be devoted to 
undertaking some of the largest entertainment centres in Baghdad. It is envisaged that the project will include public recreational parks, a golf course, museums and other cultural facilities such as theatres and cinemas.

Being dubbed as the single largest foreign investment announced as yet, the mega project has been announced following the landmark last week's visit to Iraq by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

"The mega project complements the growing levels of support that the UAE is providing to the government of Iraq", said Yousef Al Nowais managing director Al Maabar.

(Khaleej Times)

105 exhibitors in Baghdad fair next month

More than 105 Arab and foreign companies will participate in a trade and industrial fair in Baghdad, according to an Iraqi trade ministry press release.

“The companies will take part in the six-day Iraq International Fair under the rubrics ‘International Cooperation Workshop for Reconstruction & Investment’ on November 10-15 in the Baghdad International Exhibition Grounds,” an authorized source in the trade ministry’s Iraqi Fairs Company was quoted in the release as received by Aswat al-Iraq.

“Attending the event will be companies from Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and South Korea in addition to Turkey, which has the largest exhibiting pavilion, 750 square meters,” the source said.

“Also participating are companies from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, as well as Iraqi ministries and official institutions, namely the ministries of industry & minerals, reconstruction & housing, transport and oil,” he added, noting that Phillips and Siemens are among the exhibitors in the event.

The trade ministry had sponsored the 1st national fair on reconstruction and investment last May.

(Voices of Iraq)

ID1.5b. service project in Duhuk

A service project worth 1.5 Iraqi dinars in Aqra district, Duhuk province, was finalized on Sunday, according to Mayor Jahur Ali.

“The project envisaged opening new roads and paving internal streets as well as linking the district to a main road in Aqra district, (110 km) southeastern Duhuk, at a total cost of 1.5 billion Iraqi dinars from the provincial development budget for Duhuk,” Ali told Aswat al-Iraq.Aqra, 65 km north of Mosul city, encompasses three districts and 125 villages.

It boasts several tourist sites like Bakerman, Sipa waterfalls, Zanta and others. Seventy percent of its area is farmland.Also spelled Duhok, Dohuk Dehok or Dahok; it is a city in the far northern part of Iraq to the borders with Turkey.

Lying 460 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, it has about 500,000 inhabitants, mostly consisting of Kurds and Assyrians.According to some sources, the name “Duhuk” comes from Kurmanji Kurdish meaning “small village”.Circled by mountains along the Tigris river, Duhuk, the third province with Iraq’s Kurdistan region, has a growing tourist industry.

Its population grew extremely since the 1990s as the rural population moved to the cities.

Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States, Duhuk and Iraqi Kurdistan in general have remained the only safe places for foreigners.

(Voices of Iraq)

Kamis, Oktober 09, 2008

Invitation to tender: Hydropower plant switchyard equipment

Country: Iraq

Project: Dokan and Derbandikhan Emergency Hydropower Project

Sector: Supply and installation of plant and equipment

Product: Derbandikhan HPP Switchyard

Credit No.: 4249-IQ

Project ID: P099059

The Republic of Iraq has received a credit from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development toward the cost of Dokan and Derbandikhan Emergency Hydropower Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this credit to payments under the contract for the refurbishment of the Derbandikhan Hydropower Porject (HPP) Switchyard.

Derbandikhan HPP is equipped with three units for a total capacity of 249 MW, is one of the largest power stations in the Kurdistan Region, and is connected to the national power grid. The HPP is part of a multipurpose scheme for power production and irrigation in its area. The Derbandikhan switchyard (132/33/11 kV) is located 300m nearby the Derbandikhan HPP, which is situated about 70km south east of Suleimaniah city, in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq.

The scope of work includes the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of the following main equipment aimed at improving the existing switchyard:
 63 MVA, 132/33/11 kV power transformer;
 33 kV and 11 kV equipment;
 Auxiliary transformer and grounding transformer;
 High, medium and low voltage cables;
 400V AC distribution system and marshalling kiosks;
 Lighting and socket outlet systems;
 Batteries;
 Battery charges;
 DC distribution system;
 Protection system;
 Miscellaneous works;
 General construction features;
 Portable fire fighting (extinguishers);
 63 MVA Transformers fire fighting system;
 Air-conditioning and ventilation system (HVAC).

Bidders’ qualifications
To be qualified for the award of the contract, bidders shall possess the following requirements:

i) Specific experience in the supply and installation of the equipment for high voltage switchyards of power plants acquired in the last five years, either directly or through nominated sub-contractors. This includes at least two supply and installation contracts, each including at least one transformer at 132 kV or above, of a minimum size of 40 MVA.

(ii) A total turnover for the last three years (2005 to 2007) greater than 15 million US dollars.

(iii) The policy of the Bidder as well as those of all its subcontractors shall not forbid either the contractor or its subcontractors to provide expatriated personnel to work in Iraq, and therefore the contractor and its subcontractors shall be in the position to actually provide the expatriated personnel needed for the erection and commissioning of the equipment.

(iv) Absence of any non-performance of a contract in the last three years prior to the deadline for application submission, based on all information on fully settled disputes or litigation.

(v) Not being under execution of a Bid-Securing Declaration in Iraq.

(vi) All pending litigation against the contractor shall in total not represent more than 10%, (ten percent) of the contractor’s net worth.

(vii) Current soundness of the contractor’s financial position and its prospective long term profitability, and capacity to have a cash flow amount of one million US dollars equivalent, both proved by the audited balance sheets of the last three years (2005 to 2007) or, if such audited balance sheets are not required by the law of the contractor’s country, by other financial statements acceptable to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Electricity.

Bidders may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Bidding will be conducted through the international competitive bidding procedures specified in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits, and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the Guidelines.

Bidding documents
Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from the KRG Ministry of
Electricity (MOE Address 1) or from ELC Electroconsult, at the addresses given below, and inspect the bidding documents at the same addresses from 08.00 to 15.00 hours, Sunday to Thursday for MOE and from 09.00 to 17.00 hours, Monday to Friday for ELC Electroconsult.

A complete set of bidding documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written application to one of the addresses below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of 800 US dollars. The documents are available from 13 October 2008 and can be collected from the addresses given below or will be sent by regular mail on request. The documents may also be sent using international courier upon receiving advance payment of 50 US dollars for the courier fee. The method of payment will be by cash. Payment may also be carried out by certified cheque, or prior deposit into the bank accounts as follows:

For payment to the Ministry of Electricity:
 By certified check made payable to Dokan and Derbandikhan Hydropower Project (PMT), or
 Deposit into the following bank account: Kurdistan Regional Trade Bank, Suleimaniah, Iraq. Account number 463

For payment to ELC Electroconsult:
 By certified check made payable to ELC Electroconsult S.p.A., or
 Deposit into the following bank account:
Banco di Desio e della Brianza
BIC: BDBDIT22
IBAN: IT94K0344056400000078300009:
Bids must be delivered to the Ministry of Electricity address below (MOE Address 2) at or before 15 January 2009, 12:00 noon.

All bids must be accompanied by a bid security of two hundred thousand US dollars (200,000 USD) or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency. Late bids will be rejected.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend in the Ministry of Electricity at the address below (MOE Address 3) five minutes after the deadline for submission of bids.

MOE Address 1:
General Directorate of Electricity of Suleimaniah
Fatih Saeed Salih
Salm Street, Suleimaniah, Republic of Iraq
Phone: 00964 770 1580336
E-mail: fatihsalih02@yahoo.com

MOE Address 2
Commercial Directorate
General Directorate of the Diwan
Ministry of Electricity, Kurdistan Regional Government
Brayaty, 60 Meter Street
Erbil, Kurdistan Region
Iraq
Attention:
Mr. Hoshyar A. Siwaily, Minister for Electricity

MOE Address 3
General Directorate of the Diwan
Brayaty, 60 Meter Street
Erbil, Kurdistan Region
Iraq

ELC Electroconsult address:
ELC Electroconsult
Via 1° Maggio 41, 20021 Baranzate (Milano), Italy
Phone: (+39) 02383351
Facsimile: (+39) 0238335353
E-mail: federico.ciampitti@elc-electroconsult.com
Attention :
Federico Ciampitti

(KRG)

Al Ma'abar international company intends to invest 500 million dollars in Iraq

Al Ma'abar Company for international investment - a joint project between Al Dar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate –stated that it intends to develop a project in Iraq this year worth not less than 500 million dollars.

The Managing Director Yousef Al Nowais stated to Reuters on the sidelines of Cityscape real estate exhibition in Dubai "We want to inaugurate a new multi-purpose project in Baghdad before the end of the year ...it would be a massive project worth more than 500 million dollars."

"The people (in Iraq) need to take up residence of appropriate homes after the war that destroyed their homes and Arabs are making efforts now to work to achieve stability in Iraq."

Both companies (al Dar and Sorouh) have 30 percent of shares in (Al Ma'abar) and the rest owned by Reem Investments and Reem global capacity and Holding.

The company's projects under construction and development are valued of 11.5 billion dollars in Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar and Belarus.

Al Nowais said that (Al Ma'abar) was studying development projects in Egypt and Algeria. Earlier this month, said that (Al Ma'abar) intends to invest at least 1$ billion in real estate projects over the next three years.

(Iraq Directory)

Iraq and Egypt intend to consolidate their cooperation in oil sector

The Media spokesman of the Oil Ministry, stated on Sunday, that the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum had expressed its readiness to cooperate with Iraq and develop its oil sector, noting that a delegation of specialized Egyptian companies will visit Iraq soon in this regard.

Asim Jihad, added that the oil minister Dr. Hussain al-Shahristani discussed with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Fahmi the prospects of joint cooperation between the two countries in the field of oil and on the sidelines reception of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, to the Egyptian delegation on (Sunday) ", pointing out that the two ministers agreed that a delegation of specialized Egyptian companies will visit Iraq to get acquainted on the opportunities of cooperation and the Ministry's projects for the development of this sector. "

The "Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki met on Sunday, in his office in Baghdad , the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Aboul Gheit and the Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi and discuss with them the ways of enhancing bilateral relations in political, security, economic and commercial."

Jihad said that " Al-Shahristani informed Fahmi about the reality of Iraqi oil sector needs", noting that the Egyptian minister, "offered a review of his country's potentials of businesses and the various projects particularly in the pipelines and surface facilities and drilling operations."

(Iraq Directory)


Cabinet approves economic deal with Czech Republic

The Iraqi cabinet has approved a draft agreement on economic, trade and technical cooperation with the Czech Republic, a government spokesperson said on Thursday.

“The minister of trade will be authorized to negotiate and sign the agreement,” Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement received by Aswat al-Iraq, in reference to the resolutions made during the 39th session of the Iraqi cabinet on October 7.“The agreement aims at expanding and developing trade, economic and technical exchange between the two countries in accordance with the existing laws in both countries,” Dabbagh noted.

The cabinet has also decided to set up a committee, headed by the minister of immigration and displaced persons, to resume talks on the return of displaced Iraqis, Dabbagh noted.

The committee, which will include representatives of the ministries of finance, higher education, and trade, will submit its recommendations to the cabinet in less than two weeks.

(Voices of Iraq)

Downtown Kut bridges to be set up

A local company on Thursday initiated work on three bridges at al-Mutanabbi intersection in downtown Kut at a cost of nearly $24 million, a senior official said.

“The project will be financed through the budget allocated to provincial development projects for the year 2008 with an estimated completion period of 660 days,” Engineer Sabeeh Laftah, an assistant to Wassit’s mayor for technical affairs told Aswat al-Iraq.

“Being one of the most significant projects in the province, the bridges will help ease traffic bottleneck at the intersection linking Kut to Baghdad, Amara and Nassiriya,” Laftah noted.

“Two two-way 650-meter bridges will be established, in addition to an upper 850-meter bridge,” he added.

A Shiite province, Wassit, 180 km south of Baghdad, is in the east of the country. Its name comes from the Arabic word meaning “middle,” as it lies along the Tigris about midway between Baghdad and Basra.

Its major cities include the capital, al-Kut, and al-Hayy. Prior to 1976 it was known as Kut Province.

(Voices of Iraq)

U.S army donates $ 8.5 million aid to drought-affected area in northern Iraq

The U.S army on Thursday announced its forces donated an $8.5 million drought relief package as a gift for Eid to the people of Salah Ad Din, Diyala, Kirkuk and Ninewa Provinces to provide emergency relief to these drought-affected areas.

“The ongoing drought is the worst in 100 years. The emergency funds provide farmers with agriculture technologies and seed to prevent the complete loss of another growing season,” noted a U.S army statement received by Aswat al-Iraq.

“Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, commander of Multi-National Division-North, presented the gifts to each province at an event at the Tikrit University Agriculture Center campus in Salah al Din,”the announcement pointed out.

The deputy Minister of Agriculture and the governors of Salah ad Din, Diyala, Ninewa and Kirkuk attended along with their Director General’s of Agriculture.

(Voices of Iraq)

Water Resources Ministry announces it plans erecting dams in Kurdistan region

Iraq’s Ministry of Water resources Thursday announced it signed a number of agreements with International firms to erect dams in Kurdistan regions.

“The Design department for the Ministry of Water Resources signed a number of agreements with international firms and specialist consultant offices to draft dams and water projects,” said a government statement received by Aswat al-Iraq.

“The ministry would install a number of dams and reservoirs for human use over valleys in different parts of Kurdistan region”.

The government announcement pointed out the projects would include artificial lakes utilised for tourism.

(Voices of Iraq)

Dubai Holding is pursuing to get investment opportunities in Basrah

The governor of Basra declared that a delegation from Dubai Holding company visited the province of Basra on Monday , and had a look at the reality of the city and investment opportunities there.

Mohammed al-Waeli, clarified that "the delegation included Deputy Prime of ports in Dubai and the director of development in the Emirates Islamic Bank, as discussed with government officials in Basra on the mechanism for the implementation of some investment projects especially in the area of port investment."

He added "Our mates in UAE have the significant ability and the accumulated experience in the area of investment; they are serious about entering with all their strength in this area in the province."

He pointed out that there are many Arab and foreign companies declared their readiness to implement investment projects in Basra and soon will begin the licensing process for these companies to conduct their work.

He stated that "The delegation toured around the city of Basra and saw the ports and Shat al Arabs and expressed their admiration for what they found as positive changes in security and stability."

He pointed out that the meeting was attended by Chairman of Investment Authority and the Director of Basra Chamber of Commerce and director of ports and the Reporter of the provincial council in Basra and the director of the Central Bank of Iraq in Basra. "

For his part, Vice President of the ports in Dubai Hassan Hadi described the visit as "Successful," he said, "That Emirates and Arab investors to look at Basra as an important investment location and aspire to create job opportunities in various economic fields." He noted that the next two months will witness positive steps in this area.

The city of Basra, the status of the province of Basra, about 590 km south of Baghdad.

(Iraq Directory)

Selasa, Oktober 07, 2008

$8 billion contracts to generate 11,000 additional megawatts of electricity in Iraq

The Ministry of Electricity has signed $8 billion deals with the U.S. General Electric, Siemens and other Western engineering firms for the construction of power plants that will generate 11,000 megawatts, electricity minister said.

Kareem Waheed said the bulk of the money will go to General Electric, or GE, a multinational U.S. technology conglomerate.

He said GE will build plants with a capacity to produce 6,800 megawatts.

Siemens, Europe’s finest and largest engineering company, will build plants capable of producing 2,000 megawatts.

Waheed said the deals were complete as memorandums of understanding had been signed with each of the firms long time ago.

But he said the firms were reluctant to start working in Iraq due to high levels of violence.

As violence was receding, the firms have expressed a willingness to go ahead with their commitments, Waheed claimed.

“All in all we have deals which in completion will add 11,000 megawatts to the national grid,” he added

Acute power shortages and protracted blackouts that continue for nearly 20 hours a day in major Iraqi cities have been a characteristic of U.S.-administered and occupied Iraq.

Iraq currently produces 5,500 megawatts, which is still below the amount its rickety and sanctions-hit power plants used to generate under former leader Saddam Hussein.

Waheed put Iraq’s current power needs at 11,000 megawatts.

He gave no further details of the contracts.

(Azzaman)

Senin, Oktober 06, 2008

Iraq, Egypt to boost oil cooperation

The Egyptian Ministry of Oil expressed its willingness to help modernize Iraq’s oil capabilities, an official Iraqi spokesperson said.

“Minister of Oil Hussein al-Shahrestani discussed with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Fahmi mutual cooperation between the two countries in the oil field,” a media spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, Aasem Jihad, told Aswat al-Iraq.

A delegation comprising representatives of specialized Egyptian companies will pay a field visit to Iraq to explore opportunities of mutual cooperation, Jihad noted.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki received the Egyptian ministers of foreign affairs and oil, Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Fahmi, and discussed with them means of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the political, security, economic and trade fields.

Yesterday, the Egyptian officials arrived in Iraq on an unannounced visit to meet with the Iraqi president and premier in the highest-ranking visit by an Egyptian delegation since 1990.

(Voices of Iraq)

Minggu, Oktober 05, 2008

Iraq’s oil exports to Jordan to be up by 4,000 bpd

Iraq’s oil exports to Jordan will be increased by 4,000 barrels per day (bpd) in accordance with an agreement between the countries, the Jordanian semi-official Addustour daily quoted a local official as saying on Saturday.

“Since September 13, 2008, Jordan received 8,000 bpd of oil from Iraq,” the official told Jordanian paper.
“The process moves smoothly, and security improvement in Iraq contributed to facilitating all required arrangements,” he said.

He expected that starting as of the coming week, Iraq’s oil exports to Jordan will be increased by 4,000 bpd, to reach 12,000 bpd, to achieve the targeted amount agreed upon by the two sides.

(Voices of Iraq)

Dana Gas, Hilal embark on gas supply in Kurdistan

Dana Gas and al-Hilal Company announced on Saturday that they started producing initial natural gas supplies within their joint mega venture in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, according to a joint statement by the two companies.

Al-Hilal CEO, Hameed Diaa Jaafar, had said in statements that the two companies would soon start producing natural gas from the Cormol oilfield in Sulaimaniya province at an initial amount of 75 million cubic feet per day, to gradually grow to 300 million cubic feet per day by the beginning of 2009.

“The two companies have concluded a series of service agreements and contracts with the Kurdistan Regional Government in April 2007 by virtue of the Strategic Alliance Protocol between the companies and the KRG,” read the statement as received by Aswat al-Iraq.

“The two companies together allocated total investments of $650 million, thus becoming the largest investment project to be injected by the private sector into Iraq at present and also the largest private sector contribution in the oil & gas sphere in the country in decades,” it added.

The gas supplies should be used as fuel for power generation at a capacity of 1250 megawatt from new under-construction stations near the Kurdish cities of Arbil and Sulaimaniya with the objective of providing electricity to more than four million Iraqis.

“The project should also help save $2.5 billion annually for the government budgets allocated to cover liquid fuel imports at present,” the statement indicated, pointing out that the two companies are still in talks with the natural resources ministry in the KRG to develop the Kurdistan Gas City project.

The City’s cornerstone should have been laid in the district of Jamjamal, Sulaimaniya province, over an area of 43 square kilometers but was postponed indefinitely.

Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city of Sharjah, al-Hilal boasts more than 35 years of oil industry experience in many Arab and foreign countries.

The UAE firm is the largest private sector stockholder in Dana Gas, which was founded in 2005.

Also headquartered in Sharjah, Dana Gas is one of the largest natural gas extracting companies in the Middle East region.

(Voices of Iraq)

Missan to set up oil depot soon

A project to construct an oil depot in the province of Missan at a cost of nearly $40 million has been referred to a local company, the director of the province’s oil products department said on Sunday.

“Today, the Ministry of Oil referred the project to the Oil Projects Company,” Engineer Ali Wared told Aswat al-Iraq, noting that the scheduled completion period does not exceed 12 months.

The depot has a capacity to store 90,000 cubic meters of oil, the director explained.

The Oil Projects Company had built oil reservoirs in the area of al-Barzakan and in the provinces of Muthanna and Karbala.

Missan is a Shiite province. Its capital city is al-Amara. Sitting on the Tigris River, Amara lies 390 km south of Baghdad. Missan, in the east of the country, bordering Iran, is home to many marsh Arabs.

(Voices of Iraq)

Jumat, Oktober 03, 2008

Iraqi gov’t allocates about 120 millions for Missan-local official

Iraqi government allocated about $118.7 millions for the southern province of Missan in its supplementary budget for calendar year 2008, a local official said on Thursday.

“The allocations would provide big projects, such as, building schools, purchasing equipment for al-Bazargan oilfields and to pave new roads and streets,”Ali Kadhim, deputy chief of Missan’s local council, told Aswat al-Iraq.

The board presidency approved the supplementary budget for calendar year of 2008 in September after its endorsement by the Iraqi parliament last August.

Missan, 390 km south Baghdad, is a border and oil-rich province and has suffered suffering from years of deprivation under former governments.

(Voices of Iraq)

Rabu, Oktober 01, 2008

Iraq participates in trade fair in Greece

Iraq will participate in a trade-industrial fair to be hosted in Greece late this year, according to Iraq’s exporters & importers union chief on Wednesday.

“A delegation will represent Iraq in Exporana Show Athens 2008, the largest diverse industries fair in Greece, where Iraqi industrialists and businessmen will meet with their Greek peers to discuss means to further industrial and trade relations between the two countries,” Thabit al-Baladawi told Aswat al-Iraq.

“The event, to be held on December 6-9, should offer a good chance for the Iraqi participants to get acquainted with advanced industrial techniques and establishments to benefit from with the aim of modernizing their own production lines in the facilities they run in Iraq,” he added.

Baladawi said the fair will also help Iraqi entrepreneurs to discuss their ideas with Greek investors in the agricultural, industrial and real estate domains.

(Voices of Iraq)

MULAI HARI JUM'AT TANGGAL 14 NOV 2008, KAMI MEMBUKA LAYANAN PEMBELIAN DINAR IRAQ

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