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Conflict Shows New, Closer Turk-Iraqi Kurdish Ties

The military posture of northern Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdistan Regional Government to defend itself against advancing Islamist rebels spotlights a reversal in one of the region’s most toxic relationships: Between Turkey and the Kurds. In previous years, Kurdish assertiveness—even in neighboring Iraq—was often countered by Turkey, which for more than a quarter century was locked in a deadly conflict with Kurdish separatists in its own country before launching peace talks in 2012. But since the U.S. invasion of Iraq more than a decade ago, Turkey has built close ties to the Kurdish government in its regional capital of Erbil, Iraq, expanding bilateral trade and coordinating vital policy issues, including the civil war in Syria. Underscoring that trend, Turkey has kept mum on Erbil’s mobilization to defend its borders this past week by deploying its Peshmerga troops into the oil-rich Iraqi city of Kirkuk. In past decades, Turkey has fiercely objected […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Kurdish Fighters Succeed Where Iraqi Army Fails

Kurdish Iraqi Peshmerga forces deploy on the outskirts of Kirkuk, near areas controlled by Sunni Muslim Jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Erbil, Iraq—Brig. Halgord Hikmat, the spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Peshmerga Ministry, made little effort to conceal his satisfaction on Friday. "Yes," he said with a cheeky grin. "It is a very nice time to be Kurdish." Only a few hours before, Kurdish soldiers known as Peshmerga were engaging Islamist insurgent fighters in Diyala Province, picking up the slack from hundreds of retreating Iraqi troops. On Thursday Peshmerga fighters moved decisively to occupy the nearby city of Kirkuk, easily expelling Islamist fighters who had sent Iraqi troops literally running for the hills. The Iraqi government in Baghdad has suffered a string of humiliating military defeats this week as insurgents from the al Qaeda-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham conquered […]

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Exxon and the Insurgency: Iraq’s Oil Players Hold Their Breath

In Iraq, Exxon Mobil Corp.’s prospects were finally beginning to look up. This week, they got a little cloudier. Oil production at the Exxon-led West Qurna-1 field in southern Iraq has doubled, now capable of delivering half a million barrels of crude a day. And the company recently obtained more generous terms in its contracts with the government, booking higher profit margins. But in mere days, Islamic militants have overrun two major cities and Kurdish forces have taken over a third, exposing security vulnerabilities that could jeopardize the billions of dollars western companies are spending to revitalize Iraq’s energy sector. The unrest has pushed up global oil prices , but it’s hardly welcome news for the likes of Exxon, BP PLC and Royal Dutch Shell PLC. Those companies have done much of the heavy […]

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Key energy facilities under ISIS control

) The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has seized several parts of Iraq’s northern energy sector in what could be an attempt to hijack a portion of Iraq’s oil revenue stream. The Baiji refinery, Iraq’s largest, is now under the control of local tribes aligned with ISIS, according to refinery workers, two senior North Oil Company (NOC) officials, and a senior Interior Ministry official. Militants have caused no damage and instructed workers to keep the facility online. "ISIS left all …

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Iran's Rouhani says ready to aid Iraq, nuclear deal by July 20 possible

Iran stands ready to help Iraq’s government in its fight against Sunni Muslim insurgents within the framework of international law, although Baghdad has so far not requested assistance, President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday. In a press conference broadcast live on state television, Rouhani also said Iran believed it was possible to conclude a comprehensive agreement ending its nuclear dispute with major powers by a July 20 deadline. Remaining differences could be settled through goodwill and flexibility, he said. Shi’ite Muslim Iran, which has strong leverage in Shi’ite-majority Iraq, is so alarmed by the Sunni jihadist advance from Iraq’s north that it may be ready to cooperate with longtime arch-enemy Washington in helping Baghdad fight back. A senior Iranian official told Reuters earlier this week that the idea is being discussed within the Tehran leadership. For now, officials say, Iran will send its neighbour advisers and […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Iran’s Rouhani says ready to aid Iraq, nuclear deal by July 20 possible

Iran stands ready to help Iraq’s government in its fight against Sunni Muslim insurgents within the framework of international law, although Baghdad has so far not requested assistance, President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday. In a press conference broadcast live on state television, Rouhani also said Iran believed it was possible to conclude a comprehensive agreement ending its nuclear dispute with major powers by a July 20 deadline. Remaining differences could be settled through goodwill and flexibility, he said. Shi’ite Muslim Iran, which has strong leverage in Shi’ite-majority Iraq, is so alarmed by the Sunni jihadist advance from Iraq’s north that it may be ready to cooperate with longtime arch-enemy Washington in helping Baghdad fight back. A senior Iranian official told Reuters earlier this week that the idea is being discussed within the Tehran leadership. For now, officials say, Iran will send its neighbour advisers and […]

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Ukrainian PM Says Russia Wrecked Gas Talks

MOSCOW—Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Friday that Moscow has wrecked talks on natural gas supplies and ordered officials to prepare the country for a shutdown of gas deliveries from Russia from Monday. Ukraine’s gas monopoly Naftogaz said earlier Friday that it is ready to repay $1.9 billion in outstanding debt to Russia for gas deliveries if Moscow and Kiev agree on an interim gas price of $326 per 1,000 cubic meters. An official with the Russian Energy Ministry, who asked not to be named, said the ministry was unaware of Ukraine’s willingness to cover the debt or its readiness to agree to a price of $326. If Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom doesn’t receive the debt repayment by 1000 Moscow time (0600 GMT) Monday, it will halt gas supplies, switching to a prepayment system. Mr. Yatsenyuk claimed that Moscow has deliberately declined to settle the gas dispute with Kiev, […]

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Chevron sells oil assets in Chad for $1.3 billion

RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Chevron sold to Chad its interest in oil producing assets in the Central African nation for about $1.3 billion. The oil and gas company had a 25 percent interest in the properties, which included seven oil fields in Chad’s Doba Basin and a pipeline system that transported crude oil to Cameroon’s coast and to other facilities. Chevron Corp. says it’s selling some profitable assets to focus on its global exploration and production business. The deal closed Friday. Shares of the San Ramon company are up 64 cents to $126.75 in afternoon trading.

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China's energy consumption 'unrivaled'

China’s demand for oil and natural gas will be unrivaled within the next two decades, analysis from finds. Paul McConnell, a principal analyst for the energy consultant group’s global trends service, said in a report expanding economies in Asia are growing by the year. "By 2030 China’s energy consumption will be unrivaled and the center of gravity for global energy demand will have decisively shifted East," he said in a statement Thursday. "India and the other developing economies of Asia Pacific are also of huge importance." The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said in its market report for June the Chinese economy is expected to grow by 7.5 percent, while India’s should expand by 5.6 percent. The global economy should grow by 3.4 percent in 2014, OPEC said. McConnell said the Asian economic trends mean India and China will become the top destinations for oil, natural gas and coal […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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China’s energy consumption ‘unrivaled’

China’s demand for oil and natural gas will be unrivaled within the next two decades, analysis from finds. Paul McConnell, a principal analyst for the energy consultant group’s global trends service, said in a report expanding economies in Asia are growing by the year. "By 2030 China’s energy consumption will be unrivaled and the center of gravity for global energy demand will have decisively shifted East," he said in a statement Thursday. "India and the other developing economies of Asia Pacific are also of huge importance." The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said in its market report for June the Chinese economy is expected to grow by 7.5 percent, while India’s should expand by 5.6 percent. The global economy should grow by 3.4 percent in 2014, OPEC said. McConnell said the Asian economic trends mean India and China will become the top destinations for oil, natural gas and coal […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple