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.



15th Turkish-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum Kicks Off in Istanbul

Aboul Gheit addressing the opening session of the forum (Arab League - X)
Aboul Gheit addressing the opening session of the forum (Arab League - X)
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15th Turkish-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum Kicks Off in Istanbul

Aboul Gheit addressing the opening session of the forum (Arab League - X)
Aboul Gheit addressing the opening session of the forum (Arab League - X)

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, stressed the need for Arab-Turkish economic cooperation to extend beyond trade into broader areas that drive sustainable economic development for both sides.

Speaking at the 15th Turkish-Arab Economic Forum in Istanbul, Aboul Gheit emphasized the importance of collaboration in infrastructure, clean energy, green technology, and services such as tourism and fintech. He also highlighted the potential for joint efforts in scientific research and innovation aimed at mutual economic benefit.

Aboul Gheit pointed out the significant growth in trade between the Arab world and Türkiye in recent years. In 2022, Turkish exports to Arab countries amounted to $46 billion, while Arab exports to Türkiye reached $36 billion, representing a notable share of both sides’ overall trade. However, he urged expanding this relationship to include sectors like energy, technology, and logistics, leveraging the strategic geographical position of both regions as a crucial economic bridge connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.

The forum, themed “Türkiye and the Arab World: A Global Corridor in Investment, Trade, and Technology,” was organized with the support of Türkiye’s Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other major regional institutions. It aimed to explore new opportunities in emerging sectors such as green energy, fintech, logistics, and capital markets, while addressing the regional and global economic challenges impacting both sides.

Turkish Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Simsek acknowledged the uncertainty facing the global economy, which is limiting growth, especially in global trade. He also noted the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, which are expected to reshape industries and societies. Simsek emphasized the need for Türkiye and the Arab world to capitalize on their potential for economic integration, particularly in this time of global economic shifts.

For his part, Egyptian Finance Minister Ahmed Kojak underlined Egypt’s efforts to ensure financial stability, production growth, and export competitiveness. He pointed to Egypt’s role in regional cooperation, highlighting initiatives such as the electricity grid connection with Saudi Arabia, which showcases the potential for regional collaboration in energy.

Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Abdelhafidh focused on the advantages of developing economic corridors between Türkiye and the Arab world, particularly through free trade agreements, while Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami Mohammed stressed Iraq’s openness to cooperation with Türkiye, noting the country’s strategic position for global trade.

In turn, Kuwaiti Finance Minister Noura Suleiman Al-Fusam highlighted the need to remove trade barriers to increase interactions between Türkiye and the Arab world, with a focus on fostering investments.