Iraq

Iraq recognised as an EITI Candidate

February 11th 2010 - 2:31PM ... Anders Tunold Kråkenes

Iraq has become a Candidate country within the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the global standard for improved transparency in the oil, gas and mining sector. This was announced today by the EITI International Board after its meeting in Oslo earlier this week.

PRESS RELEASE: Iraq announces plans to implement the EITI

January 10th 2010 - 10:27AM ... Anders Tunold Kråkenes

BAGHDAD, 10 JANUARY 2010. Noori Al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq today announced Iraq’s plans to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) at the Iraqi EITI launch conference in Baghdad.  Iraq plans to become an EITI Candidate country in February.

For too long Iraq’s natural resource wealth has brought the country conflict and corruption, rather than development and prosperity.  The EITI is an instrument to build trust and create a safe forum for wider discussion about the management of the oil revenues.

Iraqi to launch EITI at Baghdad Conference in January

December 14th 2009 - 4:51PM ... Anders Tunold Kråkenes

Noori Al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq has announced that Iraq will hold their EITI launch conference in Baghdad on 10-11 January 2010, with the intention of assisting the country to meet its EITI candidature requirements before the Oslo Board meeting in February.

The conference agenda will include discussing and approving a Work Plan, governance of the multi-stakeholder group, and confirmation of the nomination of civil society representatives.

Iraq announced that they intended to implement the EITI last year.

Iraq

February 12th 2010 - 10:05AM ... Dyveke Rogan
Candidate country
Iraq's EITI Website

Overview of the Extractive Industries

At the end of 2008, Iraq had 115 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, making it the country with the third largest reserves in the world with 11% of the world’s total proven oil reserves. The country also has over 3 trillion cubic meters of  gas reserves.  The oil and gas sector accounts for two-thirds of Iraq's GDP and over 90% of its public revenues.

Status of EITI Implementation

Iraq was accepted as an EITI Candidate country by the Board on 10 February 2010. It has until 9 February 2012 to undergo EITI Validation. 

Iraq first announced its intent to implement the EITI early 2008 and Deputy Minister Mr Barham Salih met with EITI Chairman Peter Eigen in Baghdad in October 2008. Following this meeting, Minister of Oil, Hussein Al-Shahristani  reiterated the government's commitment to the EITI during the Global Conference in Doha in February 2009. The Iraq EITI (IEITI) Launch Conference took place on 9-10 January 2010. A workplan was endorsed by all stakeholders at the Launch Conference and is available at the IEITI website. 

Oil and gas in Iraq is 100% state-owned. The EITI in Iraq will therefore focus at first on disclosing the revenues from oil export sales and reconciling these revenues with the figures that international oil buyers report to have paid for the oil. In the future, it is planned that the scope will include domestic sales, signature bonuses and non-cash oil exports.

Governance of EITI implementation

A National Secretariat has been established within the Inspector General's Office at the Ministry of Oil. Ten persons will work at the Secretariat which is headed by the Inspector General, Mr Alaa El-Deen.

A multi-stakeholder Iraqi Stakeholders Council was announced during the IEITI Launch Conference. The Council will have fourteen representatives including the IEITI Chair, the  Secretary of the IEITI, four government representatives, four company representatives and four representatives from civil society. The representatives will be announced shortly.

IEITI Chairperson

The General Secretary of the Iraq Council of Ministers, Hon Ali Al-Allaq has been appointed as the IEITI Chair.

IEITI National Coordinator

The Inspector General in the Ministry of Oil, Mr Alaa El-Deen has been appointed as the head of the IEITI Secretariat and will provide the day-to-day support to the EITI process in Iraq.

Mr Alaa El-Deen
Inspector General
Ministry of Oil
E-mail: aldeen57 [at] msn [dot] com

 

Companies operating*

International oil & gas companies: BP*, CNPC, ENI*, Exxon*, Gazprom, Japex, Kogas, Lukoil, Occidental, Petronas, Shell*, Sonangol, Statoil*, Total*, TPAO.

State-owned oil & gas companies: North Oil Company, South Oil Company, Maysan Oil Company, Midland Oil Company, Iraqi Oil Exploration Company.

*EITI Supporting company

* Note: Company list based on EITI research and is not conclusive

"EITI will be an important tool in driving the recovery of Iraq"

May 29th 2008 - 5:51PM ... Anders Tunold Kråkenes

At the Iraq Compact Review Conference 29 May 2008, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said: "The Government has also committed to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)." Jonas Moberg, Head of the EITI International Secretariat, welcomed Iraq's commitment to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and made the following statement:

Iraq commits to the EITI

April 3rd 2008 - 4:42PM ... Anders Tunold Kråkenes

The Government of Iraq has formally committed to implement the EITI making it the single largest country in terms of proven oil reserves (11% of world’s resources) to do so.