Government Abadi, shaking off the dust from the oil and gas law (HCL)

Government Abadi, shaking off the dust from the oil and gas law (HCL)

02/17/2015

Haider al-Abadi as government inherited challenges and tasks and projects unfinished from the previous government, the parliament, elected last year, inherited from its predecessor bills not approved during the previous legislative sessions.

At the forefront of these laws oil and gas law, which, despite the utmost importance not initiated since the preparation drafted in early 2007.

The reason for the survival of the oil and gas law frozen in refrigerator Parliament or caked dust in the drawers of the cabinet over the years, mainly, to the dispute over the proposed clauses between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

But the arrival of government Abadi coincided with the existential threat to the unity of Iraq since the control of the organization of the Islamic State “Daash” large areas of the country and imposed the challenge of the need to launch a new page in the national relations. Among the steps taken in this direction the agreement reached by the Oil Ministry with the Kurdistan Regional Government in preparation for the settlement of other outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil.

In this atmosphere, were reported preparing a new project for the oil and gas law. The reports pointed out that the new project, who are eyeing the reasons that prevented the adoption of the previous texts in order to overcome in the new draft.

Observers noted that many developments have taken place since the drafting of earlier drafts that did not succeed. These developments deep financial crisis in Iraq following the fall in oil prices and rising oil provinces claim to be the voice of a word in writing the law for the exploitation of the wealth extracted from its soil.

In addition, the preparation of formula undermine acceptance of the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government will go a long way in establishing the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil on the strong foundation of understanding to settle outstanding issues remain Alokhry.obouklavh the federal government in the province’s oil and provinces relationship open relationship shocks and crises.

Radio Free Iraq met with Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad, Oil, who confirmed that the oil law, which is being prepared will be the general contours legally put the national interest above all else, while ensuring an equitable distribution of oil wealth expected to undergo law when discussing the parliament for the same consensus that characterize the process of law-making in Iraq.

Jihad and stressed the role of the State Oil Marketing Company “Sumo” as a national company mission export of Iraqi oil at world prices and the conclusion of contracts with international companies as well as their representation in Iraq Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries “OPEC”.

The spokesman for the Oil Ministry, Assem Jihad said the oil marketing company “Sumo” is also Iraq tool to implement its commitment to transparency through published monthly, which includes all data and details of the exports of Iraq’s oil, including the quantities and prices of the contracting entities to serve the strengthening of Iraq’s international status and reputation In this area in particular and that in Transparency International’s member organization implements the consequences of this membership obligations.

Member of the Commission on oil and energy parliamentary Ahmed meaning predicted it would not be prepared to agreed the law of oil easy task draft because of the depth of the differences between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the one hand and between the center and some parties of the National Alliance of the other side, noting in this regard to the President of the Government statement region Nechirvan Barzani that The Baghdad government will not pay dues even if the province agreed quantity of oil released.

But a member of the Oil and Energy Committee for the Kurdistan Alliance Ares Abdullah said that the provincial government requested an increase in the export of oil above the agreed quantity to be able to reimburse the province late.

For Oil and Energy Committee member Ahmed meaning also supported to be the export of oil through the company “Sumo” to be oil all Iraqis and not to reap significant benefits province Tbgen another province like Basra, which emits today about 80 percent of Iraq’s oil, according to the meaning.

Member of the Commission on oil and energy parliamentary Kurdistan Alliance Kawa Mohamed noted that the Iraqi political blocs recognizes laws and draw strategies on the consensus rule, whether political or financial, and this is also true for the oil marketing company “Sumo” and the share of the Kurdistan region, which issued according to population ratio.

Kurdish MP and accept the situation in Kurdistan, calling him embarrassed with the presence of some 1.5 million displaced people and a budget deficit of approximately 25 trillion dinars and caused the tension in the political and economic relations.

He warned the Commission on oil and energy parliamentary member Kawa Muhammad of the Iraqi people and Cardh other vehicle components and tired of the divisions and conflicts likely to postpone the disputed issues to a later stage.

Advisor to the President of the House of Representatives for Energy Ali Fayad suggested that all parties agree on a single port for the export of oil and is involved in the oversight of the maintenance of public money on the basis that the oil belongs to the Iraqi people as a whole.

Political analyst Jassim al-Moussawi, enslaved to the Kurdistan Regional Government to accept the export of oil through the SOMO or abide by the agreement reached with Baghdad and the Kurdish party’s position attributed this to the weakness of the federal government’s position.

Moussawi said that he has a strong conviction that the oil and gas law will not proceed if initiated it will remain a dead letter because it is not the interest of the Kurdish side to contend with weak financially and economically federal government.

Legal expert Adel al-Lami, called the House of Representatives to push for intervention in the oil industry through the proposed law, saying that the executive management of the oil sector work while forwarded to the legislature would expose him to the influence of factional interests of the general national interest expense.

Held at the initiative of the Organization of July for Development conference attended by a group of specialists and experts in the field of oil and energy ministers, parliamentarians and former civilian activists to discuss the proposed oil and gas law and make recommendations to the House of Representatives to perhaps be useful during the discussion of the draft law.

iraqhurr.org