When they do direct banking to go international it's not going be at a rate like 1310, it's going to be something that's fair, real effective exchange rate, something similar to that...
This is good information. It's phenomenal. Central banks' involved, the appropriate ground has been set for the auction window to leave...
Al-Sudani said he's keen on BRICS for all you BRICS lovers but obviously he's not going into BRICS at 1310...
>Article: "...Representative have agreed on the importance of passing this law [HCL] because it guarantees the fair distribution of wealth to all Iraqis..."
That's everybody in parliament, that's everybody, so I think there isn't going to be anybody that would miss that vote... So why haven't they done it? They have to value that. That's what we're waiting for to see if they have a new valuation for that based off the new international exchange rate...
There's a lot of movement and evidence to suggest Iraq is going to to international.
They pretty much have all the tools they need to do so. We haven't seen any payment internationally for projects. We know the 23, 24 and 25 budget has not been spent yet...It's all very good.
Crescent Petroleum, which signed the three 20-year contracts in February, is expected to produce 400 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas within a period of one and a half years, the Iraqi ministry said on October 15, citing Iraq's Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani.
Activating these contracts will help Iraq to prevent gas flaring and use the processed gas to generate electrical power, the minister said.
The contracts cover the production of natural gas from two oil and gas blocks in northern Diyala province, while a third in Iraq’s main oil-producing region of Basra will be explored and developed to add further supplies.
“These new projects will deliver much-needed gas to generate electricity in Iraq and create thousands of new jobs that will boost the economy and contribute to the country’s economic development, particularly in Diyala and Basra governorates,” Abdulla al Qadi, executive director of exploration and production at Crescent Petroleum, told The National.
“We look forward to a fruitful partnership with our partners in the Midland and Basra Oil companies for the benefit of the people of Iraq in the decades to come.”
The three contracts were awarded as part of Iraq's fifth licensing round for oil and gas projects, with the country attracting international oil companies to help develop its resources.
Iraq, Opec's second-largest producer, last week said it would award 30 new oil and gas projects in its “fifth +” and sixth licensing rounds.
The “fifth +” round comprises 16 new projects, some of which were not awarded in the fifth licensing round, while the sixth licensing round will include 14 projects, an Iraqi Oil Ministry official said.
Major oil companies operating in the Arab country include Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, BP, China’s CNPC and Russia’s Lukoil.
Iraq's continuing oil and gas project licensing rounds come at a time when it is heavily reliant on gas imports to feed its power grid.
The country's electricity demand in summer exceeds 35 gigawatts but its obsolete plants and grid can produce only about 25 gigawatts, resulting in lengthy power cuts and the use of contaminating and expensive private diesel generators.
Saudi Arabia last week said it had inaugurated the Gulf electricity market project's connection platform with Iraq. This will enable the exchange and trade of electric power between the Gulf bloc and Iraq, helping the latter to meet its growing demands for power.
Iraq's electricity demand is set to double between 2019 and 2030, with its supply shortfall expected to widen as its population grows by more than a million a year, according to the International Energy Agency.
Baghdad fails to control the dollar, and Washington puts pressure on Iraq economically due to its support for Palestine, 18 OCT
Baghdad fails to control the dollar and Washington puts pressure on Iraq economically due to its support for PalestineA member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Mustafa Al-Karaawi, said today, Tuesday, that the government of Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani has failed miserably to control the dollar exchange rate despite the plans and reforms that were prepared and launched in the past.
Al-Karaawi confirmed, in an exclusive interview with Al-Mutala’ Agency, that “previous measures and meetings that took place between the government, the governor of the Central Bank, and the owners of government banks regarding controlling the price of the dollar and not trading it internally were of no benefit,” indicating that the government failed to impose its control over the dollar. The stability of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar.”
He added, “The Prime Minister met yesterday with the concerned authorities, to discuss the non-implementation of reform packages related to the price of the dollar,” calling on “Al-Sudani to take effective solutions like those issued by the Central Bank to control the dollar at border crossings and customs taxes.”
The member of the Finance Committee pointed out that there are American political influences that exert pressure on Iraq to put pressure on it economically, regarding its support for the Palestinian cause and advocacy for the people of Gaza against the Zionist occupation,” stressing that “Iraq seeks to address that issue and put pressure on the US Federal Bank to provide amounts in dollars and at a specific time.” .
He continued by saying, “Iraq’s position on the Palestinian issue is firm and will not change, and we reject all Zionist crimes committed by the occupation against the Palestinians, and this is an irrevocable decision.”
Financial Conundrum in Kurdistan: Iraq and KRG Pledge to Find Solutions, 18 OCT
In the grand halls of the Iraqi Parliament, a meeting of fiscal minds unfolded with representatives from Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) coming together to navigate the labyrinthine financial challenges of the Kurdistan region. The discussion, led by the Finance Committee of the Iraqi Parliament, featured a dialogue between KRG’s Finance Minister Awat Sheikh Janab and Iraq’s Finance Minister Taif Sami. The discourse, a dance between political subtleties and economic realities, was aimed at unraveling the knotty issue of delayed salaries and budgetary constraints of the Kurdistan region.
Unpaid Salaries: A Growing Concern
The meeting was a reflection of the financial anxieties brewing in the heart of Kurdistan. The Finance Committee voiced its concern about the delay in salary payments to the region’s employees, a problem that had been a thorn in the side of the region’s economic stability. The issue, they stressed, needed immediate attention to prevent further financial distress for the employees and to ensure the financial health of the region.
Transparency in Public Funds
As the meeting progressed, the issue of the Kurdistan budget came under scrutiny. The committee emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in managing public funds. The necessity of a budget that is efficiently and effectively allocated to meet the needs of the region was underscored, hinting at the need for better fiscal management practices.
The Promise of Cooperation
Kurdistan Regional Government’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Awat Sheikh Janab, acknowledging the financial hurdles that Kurdistan had to jump, assured the committee of the government’s commitment to tackle these challenges. Taif Sami, in a similar vein, expressed his support for the Kurdistan region, emphasizing the need for cooperation between the central and regional governments to navigate the financial storm. The meeting concluded with both sides pledging to work together to find a solution to the pressing financial issues, with the Finance Committee promising support and assistance to the regional government.
The meeting, while a positive step towards resolving the financial issues of the Kurdistan region, is merely the opening move in a complex chessboard of political and economic negotiations. The commitments made in the meeting will have to be translated into concrete actions, and only then will they result in a lasting solution to the financial challenges confronting the Kurdistan Region.
Iraqi dinar loses ground as US dollar surges in Baghdad and Erbil markets, 18 OCT
Shafaq News/ The exchange rates of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar saw a notable rise this Wednesday morning in Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.
Shafaq News Agency correspondent reported that at the opening of the Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya stock exchanges in Baghdad, the dollar was trading at 160,100 dinars for every 100 dollars. This marked a significant increase from the previous day's rate of 158,800 dinars.
In local markets, the selling prices reached 161,000 Iraqi dinars, while the purchasing price stood at 159,000 dinars for every 100 dollars.
In Erbil, the selling price rose to 160,700 dinars, while the purchase price settled at 160,600 dinars for every 100 dollars.