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BOC Boss to Head Iraqi Oil Ministry

By John Lee.

Iraq’s parliament has approved the appointment of the former head of the Basra Oil Company (BOC) as Minister for Oil.

Variously named as Ihsan Ismaeel, Ihsan Abdul Jabbar Ismail, and Ihsan Ismaael, he was one of seven cabinet ministers approved on Saturday, completing Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s 22-member government.

The other posts filled were foreign affairs, trade, culture, agriculture, justice and migration.

According to Al Jazeera, Fuad Hussein, who served as finance minister in the previous government, is the only member of the old government to join the new team, returning as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The veteran Kurdish politician is reported to be close to Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani.

(Sources: AFP, Iraq Oil Report, Reuters, Al Jazeera)

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Hawrami to be Top Energy Official in new KRG Cabinet

By John Lee.

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s long-serving Minister of Natural Resources (MNR), Ashti Hawrami (pictured), is to be appointed to the post of Assistant Prime Minister for Energy Affairs in the new KRG cabinet.

According to a report from Rudaw, it is not currently clear whether the move will result in the scrapping of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Hawrami was first appointed as Minister for Natural Resources in 2006.

(Source: Rudaw)

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Iraqi Kurdistan Cabinet finally sees daylight

By Dana Taib Menmy for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani presented his new Cabinet July 10, vowing to institute reforms and reinvigorate the semi-autonomous government in Erbil, Iraq.

Three main parties in Iraqi Kurdistan were able to reach an understanding on their ministerial nominations to finally form the new government: the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Gorran (Change) movement.

Parliament now has confirmed 21 ministers for the Cabinet, though the controversial post of the natural resources minister remains vacant.

Click here to read the full story.

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New Iraqi Cabinet Named

During a special session in Baghdad, Iraq’s parliament approved candidates nominated by Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi for membership of the Iraq’s new Cabinet.

Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi outlined to parliament the key priorities of the new Iraqi government which include the delivery of good public services, protecting Iraq’s national security and fighting extremism, boosting economic development, the reconstruction of Iraq’s towns and cities, combating corruption, protecting minorities, empowering women, and enhancing Iraq’s international standing.

Members of the new Iraqi Cabinet are:

Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief: Adil Abd Al-Mahdi
Minister of Agriculture: Saleh al-Hassani
Minister of Communications: Naem al-Rubaie
Minister of Construction and Housing: Benkeen Rekani
Minister of Electricity: Luay al-Khatteeb
Minister of Finance: Fouad Hussein
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mohamed Ali Alhakim
Minister of Health:Alaa al-Alwan
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs: Bassem al-Rubaie
Minister of Industry and Minerals : Saleh al-Joubouri
Minister of Oil: Thamer al-Ghadban
Minister of Trade: Mohammed Hashim
Minister of Transport: Abdullah al-Maliki
Minister of Water Resources: Jamal al-Adilee
Minster of Youth and Sports: Ahmed al-Oubaidi

Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi will present to parliament nominees for other Cabinet posts, and announce other appointments at a later date.

(Source: Iraqi Govt)

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Cabinet to Improve Services in Basra; Approves Kirkuk Refinery License

The Cabinet held its weekly regular meeting in Baghdad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi.

At the meeting, it was decided to:

  • direct the Ministry of Water Resources to deliver water for Basra province to a rate of 75 m3 / s and remove unauthorised structures on the rivers;
  • direct the Ministry of Water Resources to follow-up on the chlorine ratio in the water of Basra and other provinces;
  • launch the Basra sewage waste management project, which has been suspended since 2015;
  • grant an investment license for the construction of the Kirkuk oil refinery;
  • vote on the implementation of a response to the demands of the demonstrators in Karbala, Basra, Dhi Qar, and Najaf;
  • allocate a residential plot for young athletes who win the gold, silver or bronze medals at international sporting championships.

(Source: Iraqi Govt)