Iraq Reconstruction News 4 January 2007

Iraq Reconstruction News
4 January 2007


1. Izdihar Round-Up: Iraq Business News 24-30 December 2006. http://www.izdihar-iraq.com/news/PDFs/RoundUps/2006_12_december/2006_1224-1227_roundup.pdf

2. Iraqi Market Basket Report. Costs: Sugar, Flour, Rice, Eggs, Noodles, Chicken, Tomatoes.
http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/517/Iraqi_Market_Basket_Report

3. Statoil is making a shift in interest from southern Iraq to Kurdistan. Tactical Report - 29/11/06. http://www.tacticalreport.com/Articles/IIRNews/2006/29112006.htm

4. DNO Says Tawke #4 Tests at 8,500 bpod. A barefoot (open hole) test was undertaken and the Tawke #4 well produced at a maximum flow rate of 8,500 bopd through a 2-inch choke size. Oil samples were taken confirming similar crude oil quality as was produced during testing of Tawke # 1 / 1A and Tawke # 2. The well will now be completed as an oil producer before the rig is moved to the Tawke # 5 location, hence Tawke # 4 is drilled, tested and completed within a period of approximately three weeks. http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=39625

5. World Bank Iraq Economic Data Sheet (December 2006). http://siteresources.worldbank.org/IRFFI/64168382-1092419012421/21157150/IRAQDATASHEETDec06.pdf

6. Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq, November 2006. http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/9010Quarterly-Report-20061216.pdf

7. Iraq Oil, Gas & Petrochemical Summit, 17-18 April 2007. http://www.iraqdevelopmentprogram.org/idp/events/iog/index.htm

8. 'MTC Atheer" doubles its subscribers to exceed three millions in Iraq. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=2857

9. An American university for Iraq but not in Baghdad. SULAIMANIYA, Iraq — It would be an ambitious project even in a Middle Eastern country not embroiled in war: build an American-style university where classes are taught in English, teachers come from around the world and graduates compete for lucrative jobs in fields like business and computer science. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/626b8b18-5d5e-11db-9d15-0000779e2340.html

10. OPEC: Selected Iraq Upstream and Downstream Projects.
Upstream projects: http://www.opec.org/home/powerpoint/supply%20and%20capacity/upstream%20projects/upiraq.htm
Downstream projects: http://www.opec.org/home/powerpoint/downstream%20constraints/downstream%20projects/dsiraq.htm
Other OPEC Iraq information: http://www.opec.org/aboutus/member%20countries/iraq.htm

11. Iraq contractors face increased scrutiny in new Congress. When Rep. Henry Waxman takes over the House Government Reform Committee this month, it's a sure bet that the hearing schedule is going to include some pointed inquiries into the Bush administration's reconstruction program in Iraq. http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0107/010307mag1.htm

12. Economic Inflation is the prominent event in 2006. The phenomenon has grown more frightening and threatening to disrupt production sectors. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=2867

13. The Norwegian D.N.O obtain additional 15% of an oil field. The Norwegian Oil Company D.N.O said ,on Thursday, that it rose its share in the oil fields in northern Iraq to 55% from 40% in agreement with the authorities in the Kurdish area, on condition that the company would bear full cost of production-sharing agreements. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=2853

14. Iraq Government Focusing on Rebuilding Oil Industry. Iraq's Kurds, Sunnis, and Shi'ites are bickering over how to distribute the nation's potentially vast oil revenue. In the meantime, energy officials are trying to rebuild the battered industry while saboteurs are busy attacking pipelines and other facilities. http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-01-02-voa34.cfm

15. P.M. receives Samara rebuilding commission. http://english.iraqimedianet.net/index.php?mod=article&cat=IraqNews&article=1134

16. Iraqi Women Struggle to Find Suitable Marriages. Morning Edition, January 3, 2007 · Decades of war have left many Iraqi women without husbands. Now the violence of post-Saddam Iraq is making it even more difficult to get married. Many women now resort to relationships of necessity in a society that places a very high value on the institution of marriage. ttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6716125