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Iraq cancels USD 764 mn Baghdad airport BOT contract

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

TODAY: Iraq scraps USD 764 mn airport agreement + ALCN sells port operator stake

Good morning, friends. Iraq has pulled the plug on a USD 764 mn airport contract over corruption concerns. Egypt, meanwhile, is quietly reshaping its port ownership map: ALCN is selling its stake in Egypt Marine Ports back to its state parent, and the country has signed on to transit and re-export Cypriot gas through Idku and Damietta — an agreement that adds another thread to Egypt's case for becoming the region's gas hub.

The question dominating the opening day of the G7 in France: When exactly will Hormuz reopen? Trump says Friday, when the US and Iran are due to sign. Others at the summit aren't so sure.


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You're at the stage where the questions have shifted: who gets what, whether your estate survives you intact or gets tied up in courts, whether you exit on your terms or let timing decide for you.

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The fifth wheel

The Egyptian gov’t is expected to contract for a fifth floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) ahead of the summer demand peak, two government officials tell EnterpriseAM. The vessel will join the four FSRUs already deployed in the country — the Hoegh Galleon, Energos Power, Energos Eskimo, and Energos Winter — which currently provide c.2.7 bcf/d of regasification capacity.

Why it matters: Egypt’s been buying huge volumes of LNG since its domestic natural gas production plunged to an average of 3.87 bcf/d in 1Q 2026, compared to its peak of 6.13 bcf/d in March 2021. Egypt needs more capacity to turn the LNG into usable gas — a fifth unit would up its capacity, deepen the import buffer, and keep the national grid from buckling.

DATA POINT- Egypt has secured around 75 LNG cargoes to cover natural gas needs through the end of the year, including 45 cargoes for the summer months, the officials say. Roughly 30 of the summer cargoes will be directed to power stations, the sources add.

Egypt’s total energy import bill is expected to hit USD 13.5 bn, up from previous estimates of USD 12 bn in FY 2026/27, according to a government document seen by EnterpriseAM. From April through September of this year, crude import costs are expected to surge to USD 13.3 bn, up from an initial target of USD 10 bn.

Gulf crude goes west

The UAE and Oman are redirecting a large wave of crude to Europe next month, as Chinese imports of Gulf oil fall sharply. At least six supertankers carrying a combined 12 mn barrels are already scheduled, Bloomberg reports.

The China gap is stark: China normally takes 70-80% of Oman’s crude, but its purchases of May-loading Oman cargoes fell to just 65k bbl / d, down from some 700k bbl / d in February. It also bought no May-loading UAE crude, compared with 750k bbl / d in February, leaving more Murban, Upper Zakum, and Oman crude available for European refiners.

Why it matters: The flows show that China’s sharp retreat from Middle East crude buying is softening the blow from the Iran war’s disruption of Gulf supply routes. When the war broke out, traders initially scrambled for non-Gulf barrels — but the market calmed once it became clear that China, the world’s top crude importer, was pulling back heavily from purchases.

Adnoc has more to offer

Adnoc has launched its third crude tender this month — offering up to 2 mn bbl of Upper Zakum, Umm Lulu, and Das crude, Reuters reports, citing trade sources. Buyers can purchase on an FOB basis from Fujairah, Zirku, or Das Island, or via ship-to-ship transfers across ranges including Fujairah to Sohar and Malaysia, with pricing set against official selling prices or the Dubai benchmark.

Adnoc is finding ways to keep exports moving — even as Hormuz’s reopening timeline remains unclear. The company has exported three LNG shipments from the Gulf on tankers that went dark while crossing Hormuz earlier this month. It also offered oil tenders this month, resumed exporting naphtha through Oman’s Sohar port, and is planning a multi-fuel pipeline to hedge against future shipping disruptions.

har port, and is planning a multi-fuel pipeline to hedge against future disruptions to shipping.

Market watch

Oil prices rose this morning amid uncertainty over the US-Iran agreement and delays in reopening Hormuz, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures increased USD 0.26 to trade at USD 83.42 / bbl by 01.18 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose USD 0.46 to USD 81.12 / bbl.


The Baltic Index is back in the red: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — fell 0.3% to 2,720 points on Monday. The capesize index was down 1.3% to 4,053 points, while the panamax index rose 0.4% to 2,291 points. The smaller supramax index inched up 1.3% at 1,664 points.

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The Big Story Today

Baghdad cancels its flagship airport PPP over corruption concerns

Iraq has canceled a USD 764 mn agreement after corruption suspicions emerged, Reuters reports. The government pulled the plug on a 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract for Baghdad International Airport — awarded last year to a consortium of Corporación América Airports and Iraqi real estate firm Amwaj International — after identifying potential irregularities in the tendering process and contract terms, sources told the newswire.

The project was Iraq’s private-capital showcase: The plan was set to raise the airport’s capacity to around 8.5 mn passengers in the first phase, with the consortium managing terminals, ground services, and air cargo, while Iraq retained sovereign control over customs and fuel.

The cancellation lands before financial close — which limits law-related exposure but not the reputational one. “[The project] was intended to serve as a flagship public-private partnership (PPP) for Iraq’s broader effort to mobilize private capital for strategic transport infrastructure,” Wouter Dewulf, professor of air transport economics at the University of Antwerp, tells EnterpriseAM. “Canceling before financial close is less damaging than terminating a fully operational concession. Nevertheless, the signal is still important, because international investors look not only at law-related closure but also at the credibility of the entire procurement and award process,” he adds.

The investor community is watching how Baghdad handles what comes next, not the cancellation itself. “Investors will not be discouraged by the cancellation, they will focus on the reasons behind it and the government’s next steps,” Dr. Malik Al Jabori, PPP expert and co-founder and partner at Al Jubori & Partners law firm, tells EnterpriseAM. “Investors understand that governments have a duty to review projects when concerns arise. What matters is whether the process remains transparent, predictable, and professionally managed,” he says.

REMEMBER- Iraq has been trying to make infrastructure investable again. Baghdad has been pushing a broader transport and logistics buildout, including the Development Road project, airport upgrades, border-crossing improvements, and post-war reconstruction assets.

Iraq needs to close the credibility gap. “Success depends not only on building new facilities, but also on operating the airport efficiently, growing passenger traffic, attracting airlines, developing commercial revenues, maintaining international standards, and creating a sustainable long-term business model,” Al Jabori argues.

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M&A Watch

ALCN sells Egypt Marine Ports stake to state parent

Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling (ALCN) is moving up its entire 6.01% stake in Egypt Maritime Ports to one of its own corporate parents, state-owned Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport, in an EGP 1.05 bn transaction, according to an EGX disclosure (pdf). The sale is structured as a compensation swap, with no money changing hands, a senior government official tells EnterpriseAM.

What’s the fair value? The related-party transaction covers 182.7 mn shares at a fair value of USD 0.111 per share, putting total consideration at c.USD 20.28 mn. The fair value study assumed a conversion rate of EGP 51.77 to the USD.

A sprint to sign-off: ALCN had to change independent financial advisors less than three weeks before the fair value study was published. Elite Financial stepped in to complete the valuation — audited by Grant Thornton and BoD-approved — in less than 21 days.

Mind the gap: Baker Tilly, which was originally tapped for the transaction — according to an earlier bourse filing (pdf) — stepped back due to an independence issue under FRA rules. The firm had worked with ALCN within the preceding six months, which disqualifies it from serving as an independent financial advisor on a separate transaction during that period, a source close to the matter tells EnterpriseAM.

The sale has nothing to do with Black Caspian’s MTO for 90% of ALCN, the government official tells us. Discussions on the transaction have been underway since the start of the year, well before AD Ports submitted its sweetened offer, which the government is set to reject, the source adds.

Who sits at the cap table: AD Ports, which is owned by Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ, built a 51.33% majority in ALCN across two moves — a 32% indirect stake through Alpha Oryx in 2022, and an acquisition of PIF-owned SEIC’s 19.3% for EGP 13.24 bn last November. The government controls a combined 42.9% blocking stake through the Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport (35.3%) and Alexandria Port Authority (7.6%).

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Trade

Egypt to transit and liquefy Cypriot gas from Pegasus and Glaucus fields at Idku and Damietta

Egypt agreed with QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil to receive and re-export gas from Cyprus’s Pegasus and Glaucus fields through Egyptian pipeline networks, processing plants, and liquefaction facilities at Idku and Damietta. The framework would see Egypt collect transit and processing fees, the Arabic press reports, citing an unnamed government official. The arrangement follows an MoU signed in late May to explore how to link Cypriot gas discoveries to the country’s energy infrastructure.

Egyptian infrastructure prevailed over two alternative options, including dedicated production/liquefaction facilities inside Cyprus and floating production units near the concession area. The fields’ proximity to Egyptian territorial waters gave the country a competitive edge, as did ExxonMobil’s existing concession blocks in Egypt. Egypt’s gas network can handle c. 9 bcf/d, with surplus processing capacity on the Mediterranean coast exceeding 2 bcf/d and combined LNG export capacity at Idku and Damietta reaching c. 1.9 bcf/d, according to the official.

Why it matters: Egypt remains home to the Eastern Mediterranean’s only large-scale LNG export facilities through the Idku and Damietta liquefaction plants, with a combined nameplate capacity of roughly 16.7 bcm per year, PM Mostafa Madbouly said on Saturday (watch, runtime: 2:25). To replicate a single liquefaction plant like Idku would take competitors five to seven years and more than USD 10 bn, Madbouly added.

IN CONTEXT- Pegasus and Glaucus would become the third Cypriot gas development routed through Egyptian infrastructure. Egypt and Cyprus signed agreements in October to move gas from the Eni-operated Cronos field (3.1 tcf estimated reserves) to Egyptian processing and liquefaction facilities, with initial deliveries expected in 2027 at c. 500 mmcf/d. Two months ago, Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company signed a 15-year gas sales agreement to purchase the entirety of Cyprus’s 3.7 tcf Aphrodite field output, underpinned by a USD 2 bn+ subsea pipeline. Total Cypriot gas inflows heading our way are expected to reach c. 1.3 bcf/d by end-2028 from Cronos and Aphrodite gas fields.

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Also on Our Radar

Aqaba gets a new petroleum berth + India’s Prestige Denim Mills picks West Qantara for USD 20 mn plant

Aqaba builds more oil capacity

Jordan is moving ahead with a JOD 45 mn petroleum berth at Aqaba — with Aqaba Development Company now finalizing detailed studies and designs after early feasibility work showed positive returns — and construction is set for 2Q-3Q 2027, with operations targeted for early 2029. The new berth will add 5 mn tons of annual handling capacity, and should ease pressure on Aqaba’s only existing oil-products berth, which is running at 60-90% occupancy and leaving vessels waiting 50-70 hours.

SCZone lands USD 20 mn Indian denim facility

India’s first play in West Qantara is denim: Indian textile manufacturer Prestige Denim Mills is investing USD 20 mn in a denim fabric manufacturing facility in SCZone’s West Qantara Industrial Zone — India’s first in the industrial area. The 100k sqm facility will bring weaving, dyeing, and finishing under one roof, with 70% of production earmarked for export markets and the remaining 30% set to serve local demand.


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