Iraqi Oil Minister Supports Output Increase Projects

A worker is seen at Iraq's Majnoon oilfield near Basra, Iraq, March 31, 2021. Picture taken March 31, 2021. (Reuters)
A worker is seen at Iraq's Majnoon oilfield near Basra, Iraq, March 31, 2021. Picture taken March 31, 2021. (Reuters)
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Iraqi Oil Minister Supports Output Increase Projects

A worker is seen at Iraq's Majnoon oilfield near Basra, Iraq, March 31, 2021. Picture taken March 31, 2021. (Reuters)
A worker is seen at Iraq's Majnoon oilfield near Basra, Iraq, March 31, 2021. Picture taken March 31, 2021. (Reuters)

Iraq’s Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar expressed keenness to implement sustainability projects and increase the output of crude oil and gas at the oilfields of North Oil Company in Kirkuk, 250 km to the north of Baghdad.

During his visit to the company’s headquarters on Sunday, he stated that the government and the ministry are determined to boost the production at the company.

The Ministry aims to address technical, economic and security challenges in an expedited manner.

It also seeks to increase and sustain production based on national efforts as well as cooperation with global firms.

Jabbar called for fast-forwarding the implementation of optimal gas investment and output increase projects.

He discussed with senior officials at the company ways to develop output and optimize the investment of flare gas. They further addressed efforts to supply power stations with sufficient quantities of dry gas.

"The administration of the Basra and the south oil companies and the relevant departments in the Ministry are putting the final touches to the proposed project scheduled to be signed in the upcoming period," a statement of the Ministry of Oil said on June 19.

Jabbar, said: "These projects are a priority in the Ministry's plans for an optimal investment of flared gas and upholding the infrastructure."

He urged oil companies to intensify meetings and talks regarding the technical, financial, legal, economic, and contractual aspects with the national companies and relevant departments and experts.

The purpose behind this is to reach the ideal drafting of contracts and agreements with international companies and therefore obtain the highest profit to Iraq.



South Korea Aims to Delay US Tariffs in Talks, Cooperate in Mutual Areas 

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who serves concurrently as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, speaks during a meeting of economy-related ministers at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2025. (EPA/Yonhap) 
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who serves concurrently as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, speaks during a meeting of economy-related ministers at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2025. (EPA/Yonhap) 
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South Korea Aims to Delay US Tariffs in Talks, Cooperate in Mutual Areas 

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who serves concurrently as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, speaks during a meeting of economy-related ministers at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2025. (EPA/Yonhap) 
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who serves concurrently as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, speaks during a meeting of economy-related ministers at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2025. (EPA/Yonhap) 

South Korea will seek to delay the implementation of tariffs as long as possible in negotiations with the United States, its finance minister said on Tuesday, as Seoul targets cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as shipbuilding and energy.

Officials in Seoul have been scrambling to limit the damage to the export-reliant economy from the threat of looming duties.

South Korea is among the countries that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Washington would sit down with to discuss the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The priority was to delay the tariffs "as much as possible" to help reduce the uncertainty the country's businesses face in the global market, South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok told parliament.

"From our national interest perspective, the idea is to negotiate as much as possible and wrap it up under the new government," he said in answer to a lawmaker's question about the direction of Seoul's response.

Trump hit Asia's fourth-largest economy with 25% "reciprocal" tariffs earlier this month as he targeted dozens of countries with import duties as high as 49%. He has since paused their implementation by 90 days but has maintained a 10% blanket tariff on all goods imports and ratcheted up levies on China.

The tariff shock comes as South Korea prepares to pick a new president in a snap election on June 3 after Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted this month over his short-lived martial law declaration.

While the power vacuum has raised questions about the mandate of acting President Han Duck-soo and the direction of its response to Trump's sweeping tariffs, Han's government has engaged with top US administration officials.

Han spoke to Trump last week in a phone call, while South Korea's top trade envoy met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss lowering tariffs.

Trade and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun may travel to Washington next week for further talks, media reports said.

Choi said discussions between Trump and Han touched on the spirit of reaching a solution that meets the allies' mutual interests and includes cooperation in the shipbuilding sector and potential involvement in an Alaska gas pipeline project.

Seoul has previously indicated it was open to possible involvement in the gas project and that potential cooperation with Washington in the shipbuilding sector was a "very important card" in negotiations.

Trump's delay to some tariffs means the work of negotiating a trade arrangement to address the US president's claim of unfair trade will fall on a new South Korean president, who will take office immediately after the June 3 vote.

The tariff pause does not apply to the 25% duty that Trump imposed on steel and aluminium as well as vehicles.

South Korea is a leading global exporter of cars and steel to the United States.

Seoul announced on Tuesday an increase in its support package for its key semiconductor industry to 33 trillion won ($23.25 billion), amid growing policy uncertainty over US policies.

Trump said on Sunday he would be announcing the tariff rate on imported semiconductors over the next week, adding that there would be flexibility with some companies in the sector.