Iraq Reconstruction News 14 March 2007

Iraq Reconstruction News
14 March 2007


1. Three cheers for Iraq's new hydrocarbon law. The recent hydrocarbon law, approved after much wrangling by Iraq's council of ministers, deserves a great deal more praise than it has been receiving. For one thing, it abolishes the economic rationale for dictatorship in Iraq. For another, it was arrived at by a process of parley and bargain that, while still in its infancy, demonstrates the possibility of a cooperative future. For still another, it shames the oil policy of Iraq's neighbors and reinforces the idea that a democracy in Baghdad could still teach a few regional lessons. http://www.slate.com/id/2161629/

2. ConocoPhillips says working with oil ministry on Iraq field plan -- HOUSTON (MarketWatch) -- ConocoPhillips ) is working with the Iraq Oil Ministry and Russia's OAO Lukoil Holdings on a development plan for the West Qurna field, a ConocoPhillips executive said Wednesday. "We're doing a lot of work with the ministry and Lukoil on developing" a plan for West Qurna, Bill Berry, executive vice president for ConocoPhillips, said at a meeting with analysts that was Webcast from New York. http://www.marketwatch.com:80/news/story/conocophillips-says-working-oil-ministry/story.aspx?guid=%7BFF2B00BE-4E8F-4D38-9CF3-786A10255780%7D

3. ConocoPhillips studying Iraq opportunity -- ConocoPhillips said Wednesday it is talking with Iraq's oil ministry about possible projects, while continuing to work on plans to develop an Iraqi oil field in partnership with Russia's OAO Lukoil. Chairman and Chief Executive James Mulva said the Houston-based company is continuing to look at development plans for Iraq's West Qurna field with Lukoil, in which ConocoPhillips holds close to a 20 percent stake. Lukoil's West Qurna deal initially dates to the Saddam Hussein era, and Mulva said he hopes it is affirmed. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8NS7OLG0.htm

4. Oil law key to US support for Iraq government: Maliki associates -- [JURIST] Passage of a draft law aimed at dividing oil proceeds among various religious and ethnic groups in Iraq is critical to continued US support of the current Iraqi government, associates of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki [BBC profile] told AP Tuesday. http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/03/oil-law-key-to-us-support-for-iraq.php

5. Large oil refinery to be built in Karbala - Karbala, March 13, (VOI)- Iraqi oil ministry agreed to build a large oil refinery in Karbala, 110 km southwest of Baghdad, head of Karbala provincial council said on Tuesday. "Oil minister informed the provincial council during his visit to Karbala two days ago that the ministry agreed to build a large refinery in the province," Abdul-Al al-Yasseri told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
http://www.aswataliraq.info/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=39350&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

6. South Korean Troops Behind Kurdish Area's Economic Growth -- Irbil, Iraq -- As a C-130 military transport plane neared Irbil, 350 kilometers north of Baghdad, it started a roller-coaster descent aimed at dodging ground-to-air attacks. Some were airsick during the bumpy 10-minute landing, while others appeared to be enjoying the rare experience. Ten reporters and a television camera crew traveling from South Korea were asked to wear helmets and bulletproof jackets, which reminded them that they were in a battlefield. Upon arriving at a small airport here, the visitors were guarded by heavily armed South Korean soldiers and Iraqi security forces. http://www.aina.org/news/20070310142256.htm
7. New Iraqi oil law clears path for TPAO in N. Iraq -- A ministerial meeting next week bringing together Turkish and Iraqi officials will discuss Ankara's plans for oil exploration in northern Iraq after Iraqi Kurds last month dropped their demands for autonomy in awarding contracts and administering revenues, clearing the road for Turkish involvement in the oil business in the region.
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=105392&bolum=106

8. A new air line between northern Iraq and Turkish coast http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3358

9. Iraqis training in Singapore to rebuild their country -- A group of Iraqi diplomats began a three-week training programme here yesterday as part of Singapore's effort to help in Iraq's reconstruction, said the Foreign Ministry. http://www.todayonline.com:80/articles/175765.asp

10. Umm Qasr Substation Provides Reliable Power Supply - BASRAH, Iraq – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently turned over a 132 kilovolt electrical substation at the port of Umm Qsar to the Iraqi government’s Minister of Electricity. http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/releases/NR07-03-12.PDF

11. Bank Melli, Iraq branch http://www.ameinfo.com/113311.html

12. King of Spain confirms his country's commitment to reconstruction http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3326

13. Soccer Field a Rare Respite from Baghdad Violence -- Weekend Edition Sunday, March 4, 2007 · Relentless violence in Baghdad has left the city largely divided along sectarian lines. But a small field in the Baghdad neighborhood of Karada provides a rare break from the violence. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7706182

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