Iraq’s railway network: Glorious past vs. troubled present

 Shafaq News/ Iraq was once a pioneer in railway transport across the Middle East, establishing major railway links in the 1960s and 1970s that stretched from Basra to Baghdad and onward to Turkiye. However, today, this legacy of connectivity lies dormant.

According to transport expert Basel Al-Khafaji, decades of neglect by the Ministry of Transport have left Iraq’s railways struggling to keep up with modern standards.

“The historic rail line from Maaqal in Basra to Turkiye must be rebuilt with modern tracks to connect with the Grand Al-Faw Port, extending 400 km beyond Umm Qasr,” he emphasized to Shafaq News, warning that the failure to update this line not only erodes Iraq’s passenger transport but also hampers its potential for commercial freight traffic.

While experts point to long-term neglect, lawmakers are voicing frustration over the government's failure to translate plans into results.

Parliamentary Frustration

The Parliamentary Transport Committee has lambasted the government for failing to deliver on its transport promises. With the end of its term looming, most railway projects remain stuck in the planning stage.

Haitham Al-Zurkani, a member of the committee, argued, “Despite holding consultations with transport officials, the government has not kept its word. The Prime Minister must be held accountable for not meeting the program’s targets, which include easing transport bottlenecks and modernizing rail infrastructure.”

Al-Zurkani emphasized that Iraq’s rail network is outpaced by regional and global peers, including neighboring Turkiye and Iran. “In other countries, trains travel at 300 km/h, but we still rely on outdated lines,” he said.

He also expressed concern over the incomplete railway link with Iran, noting that Tehran has finished its segment while Iraq lags.

“Rail freight would greatly reduce the need for trucks, especially once Al-Faw Port becomes operational,” Al-Zurkani said.

Government Response

Ministry of Transport spokesperson Maitham Al-Safi countered the criticism by highlighting recent progress. He told Shafaq News that 12 railway lines have been rehabilitated over the past three years. “Last year, we opened the Saawa-Hujama project, and work is underway to complete other lines.”

The Ministry is prioritizing the Basra-Shalamjah rail project, which will serve pilgrims and travelers heading to Iran. “We have signed a contract with the Spanish firm Emathia, which is already working on demining and removing wartime remnants. We are now close to launching the project’s main construction phase,” Al-Safi asserted.

Beyond this, the Ministry is advancing the first phase of the “Development Road,” aimed at revitalizing existing rail lines and integrating them with Al-Faw Port’s operations. “Rehabilitation covers the Basra-Baghdad corridor and will eventually link northern regions,” he said.

Al-Safi also highlighted plans for a 36-km Basra-Shalamjah line, connecting to provinces including Karbala. Additionally, the government is evaluating a proposal for an 85-km suspended train project linking Najaf and Karbala.

“Several companies have submitted bids for the suspended train, and it’s now with the Investment Authority,” Al-Safi outlined.

The Ministry aims to finish detailed design work for the Development Road by year-end, after which the project will be opened to international competition.“We’re dividing the project into seven segments to attract top global firms, all aligned with Iraq’s strategic vision,” Al-Safi said.

Al-Faw Port Progress

Efforts to revive the railway system are closely tied to progress at the Grand Al-Faw Port, a flagship project designed to anchor Iraq’s economic future. Al-Safi said that significant milestones have been achieved, including the completion of five berths and the 62-km access road.

“We’re making progress on the submerged tunnel, container yards, and dredging work in the channel,” he said.

Al-Safi expected these infrastructure projects to wrap up by year-end, establishing Al-Faw Port as a major gateway for the Development Road and a catalyst for Iraq’s economic transformation. “The vision is for Al-Faw Port and the railways to work in unison, opening up new opportunities for trade and reducing reliance on road transport,” he said.

Whether Iraq’s railway can reclaim its 

former glory depends not just on tracks and tunnels, but on political will, transparent investment, and a strategic shift from delay to delivery.

TIDBIT FROM FNU LNU

 Fnu Lnu  

Article: "Iraq's Minister of Finance, Taif Sami Mohammed, welcomed a delegation from the World Bank's Environment Section...

The talks covered key World Bank projects focused on environmental protection and improved resource management."

  ; They want to make Iraq a "Green Economy" which is a train wreck looking for a place to happen. Spain went "GREEN" and destroyed employment and the economy. Germany went GREEN and destroyed the ability to stay warm in winter and destroyed the economy...

Now it's Iraq's turn in the barrel unless they ignore this foolishness. This is the definition of instability.

WALKINGSTICK: For them to make this report is very good for what we're looking for!!! #iraqidinar

 

Iraq nears completion of strategic refining project in Basra

 Shafaq News / Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani announced on Monday that the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit project at the South Refineries Company in Basra is nearing completion and will soon begin operations.

During a visit to the project site, Abdul Ghani described the FCC unit as one of the most strategic developments in the refining sector, expected to significantly curb Iraq’s reliance on imported petroleum products.

He told Shafaq News Agency that specialized Japanese firms are executing the project with support from the Japanese loan, and that work has reached its final stages ahead of trial operations.

The unit is set to produce between 4,200 and 4,500 cubic meters per day of high-octane gasoline (above 92 octane), along with diesel meeting European standards.

Abdul Ghani stated that gasoline imports are projected to drop to 2,000–3,000 cubic meters per day, down from over 16,000 in previous years, noting that the annual spending on imported white petroleum products, which exceeded $5 billion two years ago, has since fallen below $1 billion, and is expected to end entirely with the project’s completion .

He highlighted the role of the Karbala refinery in boosting domestic output, contributing 8,000 to 9,000 cubic meters of gasoline daily and reducing imports to 4,000–5,000 cubic meters.

The minister also pointed to progress at the Kirkuk refinery, operated by the North Refineries Company, which is expected to begin trial production soon with a daily output of no less than 1,600 cubic meters of gasoline.

He confirmed that trial operations for the FCC project’s diesel unit will begin in mid-August, with the gasoline unit to follow. 

The FCC unit in Basra is part of a wider effort to modernize and expand refining capacity across Iraq, including projects at the Karbala, Kirkuk, Central, and Northern refineries, aimed at improving fuel quality and meeting higher environmental standards.

GINGER: Across all Tiers 1 through 4, there are 96 platforms

 GINGER

💢 Hi there, Happy Campers!! Gingerbread Gintel Crumbs incoming!! ⤵️💥😁🌸🌴💦🏖️ 6.4.25

💢 Background that most of you know - helpful for those who might not... To begin with ⤵️ 

We often look at the Tier 1-4 placement of movement of these events simply to help us see where we fall in line, in the necessary sequence of (liquidity) events. 

· Across all Tiers 1 through 4, there are 96 platforms. 

· Tiers are platforms comprised of groups of individuals - with the exception of Tier 1, which is made up of sovereign countries. 

· Tier 3 is comprised of groups with large humanitarian projects. 

· Tier 4A trigger platforms are really just a pie-slice of Tier 3. But the number of individuals within this segment is so vast, they were just placed in a grouping called Tier 4A, just to aid with understanding and where they fall in place. 

· Tier 4B is really just the general public who understand what's coming, are aware and follow these processes of how the global currency reforms play out.

 Further, these parties are "ungrouped currency holders", meaning they will exchange or redeem notes independently of any group participation; those individuals who opted out of surrendering their notes to participate in a group's exchange for an earlier agreed upon contract rate. 

💥 The Gintel and Happy News ⤵️ 🥳

· Well, remember we explained earlier that there are 96 platforms across Tiers 1-4? 🙂

💥 Here's the terrific news: I've been told that the last 58 of these trigger platforms are currently in "finishing mode".💥✅😁💦

🧐 What you need to know with this information 🤨🧐🤔⤵️

· Tier 4B doesn't have to wait until all these remaining 58 platforms are finished (and liquid 💦) to go. 

· To be clear, there will still be some Tier 3 groups who will be waiting to receive spendable money even after T4B participants have completed their process.

· The timing for Tier 4B, while unknown, could honestly happen at any moment. Let's just continue to watch things play out. 

💯 As we already reported this morning, we have confirmed reports inside of Iraq where citizens are indeed experiencing ATMs dispensing the lower notes of IQD - but the rate has not been changed as of yet. Iraqis are getting used to the lower denominations for now; and the new exchange rate should be coming for them very soon.

💥😁 All the news is really great! 💥🥳

Iraq is getting closer to membership in the World Trade Organization!! #iqd # #iraqidinar #iraq

 

Iraq’s $300B black hole: Customs crisis exposed

 Shafaq News/ Iraq has funneled over $300 billion abroad in official import-related transfers over the past five years, while customs revenues have stayed alarmingly low, the Iraq Future Foundation for Economic Studies and Consultancy reported on Tuesday.

Manar al-Obaidi, head of the foundation, disclosed that between 2019 and 2024, Iraq transferred 415 trillion dinars (about $311 billion) for imports, citing Central Bank figures. Over the same period, the Ministry of Finance collected just 8.5 trillion dinars in customs duties—less than 2% of the total outflows.

“ This return is strikingly low,” al-Obaidi observed, estimating that under a standard 7% tariff, even with exemptions, Iraq should have brought in at least 29 trillion dinars. The shortfall tops 21 trillion dinars, or approximately $14.5 billion. “This estimated loss is conservative; the actual figure could be much higher.”

Al-Obaidi also cautioned that tariff waivers don’t fully explain the gap, blaming entrenched flaws in the customs system. “The scale of lost revenue points to pervasive loopholes and systemic inefficiencies.”