Page 7 - DMEA Week 48 2022

DMEA SECURITY & POLICY DMEA

Emphasising Iran’s declaration of readiness in the meeting, which was also attended by the
to implement oil and gas projects in Iraq, he Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, that the fight
demanded that the Iraqi authorities provide against ISIL was a distinguished example of
the means to realise this. The IGEDC CEO said: Iran-Iraq co-operation.
“The oil industry alone can double the current Stressing the new Iraqi government’s resolve
volume of Iran-Iraq trade.” to implement the agreements between the two
At much the same time, Prime Minister of countries and expanding relations in various
Iraq Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and his dele- fields, especially in the economic field, he noted:
gation met with Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran, “The security of Iran and Iraq are intertwined,
and the latter stressed the close relationship and in accordance with the constitution, we will
between the two nations of Iran and Iraq. not allow anyone to use Iraqi soil to threaten the
Khamenei said that Iraq’s progress and its security of neighbours.”
enhanced position to the level it deserves are in
the interest of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He Iran oil ministry opens office in Iraq
also praised the new Iraqi premier for being a In related news, the Ministry of Petroleum of
competent person who can advance Iraqi affairs Iran has announced it has opened a new office
so that the country can achieve its deserved in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Mehr News Agency
position. “It is hoped that with your Excellency, reported on November 30.
Iraq will achieve its real progress and place,” Iran has a growing influence on its
Ayatollah Khamenei said. smaller Arab neighbou, with several major firms
He pointed to the necessity of Iraqi unity now operating a presence out of Baghdad and
and urged the Iraqi government to use young the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Gov-
and devoted people to help the nation reach a ernment (KRG) in the country’s north.
deserved position on the international stage. Seyyed Abbas Beheshti, the representative of
The Supreme Leader further urged al-Sudani the Iranian Petroleum Ministry for Iraqi affairs,
to rely on young Iraqis who fought against ISIL said that “this office was opened in Baghdad in
terrorism and to repel the new threats from their order to enhance the level of cooperation and
enemies. synergy, especially to carry out joint projects
Ayatollah Khamenei also urged the central between the two brotherly countries in the fields
Iraqi government to extend its power to the of oil, gas, and energy”.
entire borders of the country and stressed that Beheshti also said that this office in Baghdad
the borders in the north of the country should is in charge of the other offices in other parts
be secured against the infiltration of terrorists. of Iraq, adding that the ministry will also have
Khamenei emphasised that “Iraq’s security is offices in Basra and the Kurdistan Region as
Iran’s security, just as Iran’s security affects Iraq’s well.
security.” Iraq has not commented on the move by
He pointed to the Iraqi Prime Minister’s talks the Iranian government, but it comes a day
in Tehran and added that good negotiations and after Iraqi officials visited the Iranian capital on
understandings were achieved in the previous high-profile meetings.
governments, but some were not translated Iranian Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji
into action; he called for the implementation of stated that Iraq has also now paid €1.6bn in
agreements, especially in the field of economic arrears for gas exports to Tehran, on the same
co-operation and goods exchanges as well as day. In total, he mentioned that Iraq has paid in
railway transportation. excess of €2.6bn in payments for gas exports to
The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, said the country to date. ™

South Africa to seek public comment on

green hydrogen commercialisation plan

AFRICA SOUTH Africa’s Cabinet has approved the pub- The GHCS will contribute towards the sec-
lication of the Green Hydrogen Commerciali- tor’s growth and support the country’s just
sation Strategy (GHCS) for public comment, energy transition. It follows on from the Hydro-
Engineering News reported on December 1. gen Society Roadmap, which was adopted by the
According to Minister in the Presidency cabinet in 2021.
Mondli Gungubele, the strategy aims to ensure The release of the GHCS for comment also
that the country becomes a major producer follows the first South Africa Green Hydrogen
and exporter of green hydrogen, as well as its Summit, which took place in Cape Town on
derivatives. November 28-30.

Week 48 01•December•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P7