Natural resources in Iraq...a huge treasure neglected by an “official decision”!, 25 MARCH

 Natural resources in Iraq...a huge treasure neglected by an “official decision”!

3/24/2024

Economic researcher, Ziyad Al-Hashimi, confirmed that (mismanagement of natural resources) is one of the major problems that the Iraqi economy suffers from, as unfair government decisions deprived Iraq of huge billion-dollar revenues and global market shares.

Al-Hashemi said in a blog post on the “X” platform, followed by “ Jarida ”, that “(mismanagement of Iraq’s natural resources) and unfair government decisions have deprived Iraq of huge billion-dollar revenues and global market shares, as Iraq is ranked ninth in the world in terms of size.” It has natural resources within its territory, such as oil, natural gas, phosphate, sulfur, and other minerals.

He added, “Estimations indicate that the value of Iraqi natural resources reaches up to 16 trillion dollars, and this puts Iraq in a distinguished position among the countries of the world rich in natural resources, and despite these enormous wealth, there is official Iraqi negligence to invest in expanding exploration, extraction, production and export.” Many of these resources are natural, as the government’s focus is exclusively on oil.”

He explained, “For example, we find that there is deliberate neglect of the Iraqi phosphate sector (by official decision and for unknown reasons) despite Iraq’s possession of 9% of the global phosphate reserve, and phosphate exports can generate tens of billions of revenues annually for the Iraqi treasury.”

He stressed, “(Mismanagement of natural resources) is one of the major problems that the Iraqi economy suffers from, and it does not appear that there are any official Iraqi efforts to overcome the mistakes that caused billions in losses for this country and its economy, and until the Iraqi government wakes up from its slumber and begins to work diligently and effectively.” Iraq will continue to lose opportunities, shares, and money to other countries, which have greatly benefited from the absence of Iraq and its exports of natural resources from the global market.  LINK