Page 13 - MEOG Week 36 2022

MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

to transport 650 million cubic meters of gas looking like acquiescence to those threats. The constitutional rights under any pressure. He
per year to Lebanon via Syria to alleviate US official is optimistic a deal can be done also pointed out to Kurdistan Region’s desire
chronic blackouts - a deal that only works if before the Karish start-up, and does not need to solve problems in accordance with the
Washington comes up with a workaround to wait until Israeli elections. constitution.
to its existing sanctions on Syria to facilitate ENERGY INTEL IRAQI NEWS
World Bank funding. The US’ Hochstein has
said the two issues aren’t linked, but Lebanese Washington to resolve oil
officials believe they are - and that reaching COMPANIES
an agreement on the maritime border could export dispute between
help pave the way for the piped gas in the near Saudi Arabia, Eni sign MoU
term. Baghdad and Kurdistan
Domestic political issues on both sides may Saudi Arabia and Italian energy company
yet serve as obstacles to finalizing a deal. The US administration confirmed on Eni have signed a memorandum of
The two sides have been close to agreement Wednesday its commitment to support the understanding, mainly in the field of
before, only for a deal to fall apart as domestic Kurdistan region and to increase efforts to sustainable development in the energy sector.
politics took over. In 2012, the government resolve problems with the federal government The agreement was signed by Saudi
of then and current Lebanese Prime Minister in Baghdad, especially the dispute over oil and Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih and Eni
Najab Mikati collapsed, putting an end to the gas. A statement issued by Kurdistan’s cabinet CEO Claudio Descalzi on the sidelines of the
prospects of a different compromise than what mentioned that Kurdistan’s Prime Minister, Forum Ambrosetti, an annual international
is on the table today, according to an account Masrour Barzani, met on Wednesday with economic conference held in Italy.
by then-negotiator Frederic Hof. This time the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Since its inception in 1975, the forum has
around, Lebanese President Michele Aoun’s Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, where both brought together heads of state, ministers,
term expires Oct. 31, and a deal could mark a discussed developing the relations between Nobel laureates and top businesspeople from
much-needed win for his term. the United States and the Kurdistan Region all over the world to discuss challenges to the
Israel meanwhile faces a political transition and the latest developments related to the world’s economies and societies.
of its own. Ahead of Nov. 1 parliamentary Iraqi political situation. Descalzi presented to Al-Falih Eni’s de-
elections, there is some speculation that Israeli Leaf confirmed her country’s commitment carbonization strategy, with a special focus
Prime Minister Yair Lapid may prefer to to continue supporting the Kurdistan on industrial initiatives and technologies
push a possibly controversial deal back until region and the Peshmerga, according to the supporting energy transition.
after the poll. “I think the incentives do exist statement. Al-Falih shared with Descalzi outlooks
for Israel to do a deal and bring it across the Leaf stressed the need to intensify efforts for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and National
line, but there obviously are some domestic to solve problems between the region and Investment Strategy.
obstacles,” Wood said. the federal government, especially the In a statement, Eni said the two sides
There is also US pressure to get the deal disagreements over the oil and gas issue “shared views about the role of Saudi Arabia
done. In an Aug. 31 phone call with Lapid, that needs to be resolved through dialogue based on current energy market challenges.”
US President Joe Biden “emphasized the and negotiations, as failure to resolve it will The MoU aims to promote cooperation
importance of concluding the maritime negatively affect Iraq’s security and stability, between Eni and Saudi institutions and
boundary negotiations between Israel and the statement mentioned. companies, mainly in the field of sustainable
Lebanon in the coming weeks,” a White House Barzani talked about the reforms development. Areas of cooperation include
readout said. implemented by the government in terms the study of joint development of initiatives
Waiting until after the election to finalize of diversifying the economy and sources around sustainable mobility, the circular
a deal also presents other problems for Israel. of revenue as well as building a strong economy and the chemicals industry.
First there’s the risk that Nasrallah carries infrastructure, the statement added. Eni has been operating in the refining and
through on the threat to attack Karish if Barzani stressed that the people of chemicals sector in the Kingdom since 1984
production begins there before an agreement. Kurdistan sacrificed a lot for their rights, through its subsidiary Ecofuel.
But any Israeli decision to delay Karish risks thus, they are not ready to give up their ARAB NEWS

Week 36 07•September•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P13