Iraq Proposes Clean Energy Investments to BP, Total

A view shows Iraq's Majnoon oil field near Basra, Iraq, March 27, 2022. (Reuters)
A view shows Iraq's Majnoon oil field near Basra, Iraq, March 27, 2022. (Reuters)
TT
20

Iraq Proposes Clean Energy Investments to BP, Total

A view shows Iraq's Majnoon oil field near Basra, Iraq, March 27, 2022. (Reuters)
A view shows Iraq's Majnoon oil field near Basra, Iraq, March 27, 2022. (Reuters)

Iraq’s Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar held talks in London and Paris with the chief executive officers of the British Petroleum company and France’s Total and officials from the French ministries of economy and energy.

He proposed new plans to invest in the oil, gas and clean energy sectors, a ministry statement revealed on Saturday.

Abdul Jabbar said during his meeting with CEO of BP Bernard Lonnie that Iraq boasts many plans and projects in the field of clean energy.

The minister said Iraq has concluded various agreements with Norway's Scatec, France’s Total, China’s Power China, UAE’s Masdar and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power to implement renewable energy projects.

Baghdad plans to produce 20% of its energy production from renewable and clean energy, Abdul Jabbar said, adding that it is working to create a good environment for investment and all the efforts are directed to implement these plans.

Commenting on his meeting with CEO of TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanee in Paris, he stated they discussed programs, job opportunities and joint cooperation to implement projects in the fields of oil and energy.

They also agreed on the timing of implementing joint projects, such as the Gas Investment Project in a number of oil fields in southern Iraq, the Solar Energy Project, Artawi Field Development Project to increase its output, as well as the Common Seawater Supply Project to support sustained and increased production in oilfields.

Abdul Jabbar further discussed with the two French ministries his country’s potentials in gas production, especially after it completed the development of the free gas fields in the Anbar and Diyala provinces.

Talks also touched on the investment of gas associated with oil operations, and the possibility of boosting production with an eye on international energy security.

The minister said he is coordinating with producers to achieve balance and required stability in global markets.



IMF Policy Committee Underscores Trade Risks to Global Economy, Commits to Fund’s Role

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, right, and International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) chair Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan speak during a news conference after the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting, during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP)
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, right, and International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) chair Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan speak during a news conference after the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting, during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP)
TT
20

IMF Policy Committee Underscores Trade Risks to Global Economy, Commits to Fund’s Role

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, right, and International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) chair Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan speak during a news conference after the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting, during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP)
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, right, and International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) chair Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan speak during a news conference after the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting, during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP)

International Monetary Fund member countries said on Friday that rising trade tensions were sapping growth and fueling uncertainty as well as market and financial stability risks, but reaffirmed their commitment to the institution as critical to helping countries navigate a difficult environment.

In a chair's statement, the IMF's steering committee also reaffirmed prior foreign exchange commitments and voiced support for a realignment of quotas, or shareholding, that better reflects countries' positions in the global economy.

"The world economy is at a pivotal juncture," the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) said in a statement as the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank drew to a close. "Following several years of rising concerns over trade, trade tensions have abruptly soared, fueling elevated uncertainty, market volatility, and risks to growth and financial stability."

The message comes at the end of a tense week for policymakers and investors anxious about US President Donald Trump's moves to upend global trade and his commitment to international institutions.

The IMF on Tuesday slashed its economic forecasts for the US, China and most countries, citing the impact of US tariffs now at 100-year highs and warning that rising trade strife would further slow growth. It forecast global growth of 2.8% for 2025, down half a percentage point from its January forecast.

Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, who chairs the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), said the Fund must continue to focus on its core mandates, including expanding trade and growth.

"Addressing global debt vulnerabilities remains a priority for our members, especially for low-income and vulnerable countries," Al-Jadaan told a news conference in Washington.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva acknowledged that the raft of current geopolitical flare-ups, especially Trump's push to redesign world trade with a barrage of tariffs, had distracted from discussions about other pressing challenges, including artificial intelligence, in public and behind closed doors.

She said it was encouraging that members had been able to engage in open conversations and share their views "in a fair space," but said she didn't want to minimize the discord.

"I don't want to sugarcoat - we still have quite a challenging time," she said at the news briefing.

Gathering members to talk about Syria had also given a new sense of urgency and purpose to turning a place of conflict into a stable and economically successful country benefiting the region and the world, Al-Jadaan said.

"It is not just about the money, it's about the work that I and other partners can deliver and capacity development, quality data and timely advice."

Al-Jadaan said trade had been the overriding concern during the meetings but he remained optimistic that solutions could be found after a week of candid and frank discussions.

"Actually today, we are holding in a lot better position than when we started the week. People understand the consequences and are working together in a constructive way to resolve tensions," he said.