Iraq to Increase Production Capacity at Basra Refinery

A gas cooling vessel during the export of a shipment of Iraqi Basra gas (Basra Gas Company)
A gas cooling vessel during the export of a shipment of Iraqi Basra gas (Basra Gas Company)
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Iraq to Increase Production Capacity at Basra Refinery

A gas cooling vessel during the export of a shipment of Iraqi Basra gas (Basra Gas Company)
A gas cooling vessel during the export of a shipment of Iraqi Basra gas (Basra Gas Company)

Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul Ghani announced Sunday that the Oil Ministry is working to increase the refining capacity of the Basra Gas Company to 1,400 million cubic feet per day in the coming years.

During his visit to the facilities of the Basra Gas Company, Abdul Ghani indicated that the ministry wants to increase gas investments through the implementation of plans, programs, and projects to reach an investment rate of 1,400 million standard cubic feet during the next few years to reduce emissions and support the economy.

He added that the Basra Gas Company had implemented gas investment projects, and the current investment rate is 900 million cubic feet.

The company has promising projects to add new capacities of invested gas to reach these rates of 1,400 million cubic feet per day through the implementation of the Basra project, which includes the establishment and construction of an integrated gas investment plant comprising two units, each one with a capacity of 200 million cubic feet, said Abdul Ghani.

The project will include a national gas network of at least 200 million cubic feet over the next five months.

The Basra Gas Company is determined to achieve this program, said the Minister, adding: "we appreciate the efforts of the company's employees for the gas investment that has been accomplished in record time."

The Basra Gas Company was formed following a joint venture agreement with Shell, the South Gas Company (SGC), and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) on an initiative to capture associated gas in South Iraq.



Gold Eases from Record Peak on Profit-taking; Trump's Tariffs in Focus

Gold bars at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 01 April 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
Gold bars at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 01 April 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
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Gold Eases from Record Peak on Profit-taking; Trump's Tariffs in Focus

Gold bars at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 01 April 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
Gold bars at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 01 April 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Gold dipped on Thursday as traders locked in profits after prices hit a record high, following a rush to safe-haven assets triggered by US President Donald Trump's aggressive import tariffs, which escalated the already intense global trade war.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $3,122.1, as of 0710 GMT. Earlier in the session, bullion hit an all-time high of $3,167.57.

US gold futures fell 0.7% to $3,145.00.

Trump unveiled on Wednesday a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the US, and higher duties on dozens of countries, including some of its biggest trading partners, deepening a trade war that has rattled global markets, Reuters said.

The reciprocal tariffs do not apply to certain goods, including gold, energy and "certain minerals that are not available in the US," according to a White House fact sheet.

One of the factors supporting gold was "the slowdown that tariffs are likely to cause the US economy, raising the prospects of future rate cuts," Capital.com's financial market analyst Kyle Rodda said.

The Trump administration confirmed that the 25% global car and truck tariffs will take effect on April 3, as planned, and duties on automotive parts imports will be launched on May 3.

Gold is in "a pure momentum trade, where bulls who were left for dust are agonizing on the side line, eager for even the smallest of dips, and until we see a volatile shakeout big enough to stun bulls and bears, the momentum trade could continue higher," said Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at City Index.

Gold, a hedge against political and financial instabilities, has surged more than 19% year-to-date, mainly driven by tariff jitters, rate- cut possibilities, geopolitical conflicts, and central bank buying.

"There's also some front running going on amongst traders who anticipate (Trump's) policies will drive central banks to park their reserves in gold rather than US dollar-denominated assets," Rodda said.

Market awaits US non-farm payrolls report due on Friday for clues into the Federal Reserve's policy path.

Spot silver slipped 2.8% to $33.07 an ounce, platinum fell 1.5% to $968.37, and palladium lost 1.4% to $956.50.