Iranian Company Resumes Sewage Network Construction in Shatra, Iraq, After 12-Year Hiatus, 2 OCT

 Iranian Company Resumes Sewage Network Construction in Shatra, Iraq, After 12-Year Hiatus, 2 OCT

After a hiatus of 12 years, the Iranian company, Omar Ab, has resumed construction on a sewage network project in the Shatra district, north of Dhi Qar, Iraq, according to a local official. The project, initially assigned to the Iranian company in 2011, was paused in 2014 due to the war against ISIS. After resuming the project two years ago, the company has faced public dissatisfaction due to slow progress. However, the completion rate of the work has now reached 94% in the stations, though the integral sewage network in the streets of Shatra continues to face delays. 

Overcoming Sanction Hurdles

To bypass the US sanctions imposed on Iran and its companies, the federal government in Baghdad has incorporated an Iraqi partner into the project. The inclusion of a local partner is part of the government’s strategy to pay the company’s dues, thereby circumventing the US sanctions on Iran and its firms. This move underscores the complexities of international politics and the ways in which they can influence local development projects. 

Project’s History and Current Status

The sewage network construction project in Shatra was originally assigned to Omar Ab in 2011. However, the rise of ISIS in 2014 led to a halt in operations. The company finally resumed work two years ago, but progress has been slower than anticipated, leading to public discontent and repeated calls for the contract to be terminated. 

Despite the challenges, the project’s completion rate is currently around 94% in the stations. However, the essential sewage network in the streets of Shatra is still experiencing delays. As per the local official, the slow progress has sparked public discontent, leading to calls for the contract’s termination. 

Implications and Future Outlook

The resumption of this project marks a significant step in infrastructural development for the Shatra district. The successful completion of the sewage network would undoubtedly improve sanitation conditions, thereby enhancing the quality of life for local residents. However, the ongoing delays and slow progress pose a significant challenge to this goal. 

Moreover, the manner in which the government and the company have navigated international sanctions to continue the project provides a fascinating case study in the interplay between international politics and local development. The addition of an Iraqi partner to bypass sanctions demonstrates a strategic approach that could potentially be replicated in other similar contexts.

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