عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Iran Lowers Gas Exports to Iraq, Cutting Power Supplies

A worker walks at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq December 21, 2015. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani/File Photo
A worker walks at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq December 21, 2015. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani/File Photo
TT
TT

Iran Lowers Gas Exports to Iraq, Cutting Power Supplies

A worker walks at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq December 21, 2015. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani/File Photo
A worker walks at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq December 21, 2015. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani/File Photo

Iraqis living in Baghdad and Central Euphrates governorates are braving this year’s winter weather without the ability to turn on much needed electric heaters due to low supplies of electricity, which is sometimes made available for a mere five hours a day.

The Levantine country’s Electricity Ministry has attributed the extended power cuts to Iran halting its gas exports to Iraq, which are vital for running some of Iraq’s power stations. It said that the freeze in exports comes as a result of Baghdad falling short on debt payments to Tehran.

It is worth noting that the energy committee at parliament called for replacing senior officials in the Electricity Ministry to avoid a possible system collapse.

“The sharp decline in power production is the result of Tehran stopping its supply of gas to Iraq,” Electricity Ministry Spokesman Ahmed al-Abadi told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that Iraq was late on paying its dues to Iran.

“Iran used to supply Iraq with about 50 million cubic meters per day, but today only about 5 million cubic meters are being delivered. This caused a significant drop in electricity generation,”al-Abadi explained.

“We have previously warned that the electricity issue could bring down any government if it is not handled properly. The government today has the option of negotiating with the Iranian side over the outstanding debts, and there is also the option to instruct the Ministry of Oil to replace gas with liquid fuel,” he added.

The spokesman, however, ruled out the latter option due to Iraq requiring 23,000 cubic meters of liquid fuel per day to run its power stations, which is out of the country’s production capacity.

Iraq’s only remaining option, according to al-Abadi, is for the government to buy more time from Iran.

Iran’s energy minister is expected to visit Baghdad next Tuesday. Iraqi officials will likely seek convincing him to extend the deadline on payments.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.