Iraq begins drilling exploratory wells in the north after 50-year pause

Drilling 15 wildcat wells for Iraq

Iraq has spudded its first exploratory oil well in its northern provinces since 1978. The wildcat well at Amerli in the northern Saladin governorate, an area that suffered years of war with Iran, insurgency, and then later ISIS occupation that made it impossible to touch.

The drilling is conducted by local champions, under a contract between the North Oil Company, the Iraqi Drilling Company, and the Oil Exploration Company. It also comes as part of a program targeting 15 wells in the area.

The age of redundancy

Another intermodal logistics link for the UAE: AD Ports Group has launched an integrated logistics service linking Khalifa Port and Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port, centered on a direct weekly container and Ro-Ro sailing. The company says it has put in place storage, handling, and cargo-movement capabilities at both ports, with the route intended to support trade flows between Iraq, the UAE, and wider GCC, the Levant, Turkey, and Europe.

More defense localization

South Korean defense manufacturer Hanwha Aerospace is the latest foreign player to partner with Emirati players on joint defense ventures. UAE-based defense and tech firm Generation 5 Holding inked an exclusive partnership with the South Korean defense firm to collaborate on manufacturing and marketing a South Korean artillery weapon in the UAE, Wam reports. The partnership, which will focus on the K9 155mm Howitzer, comes as the Emirates continues to focus on investments and partnerships to bring more defense manufacturing in-house.