SOC announced that large quantities of crude oil have been discovered in Sinbad

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1 Economic Developments in the South Region of Iraq 1: Basra Province: (1) South Oil Company finds crude oil reserves in Basra Source: ncciraq.org Date: 15 January 2014 SOC announced that large quantities of crude oil have been discovered in Sinbad oilfield, near the border with Iran in southern Basra province. SOC s staff succeeded in discovering new quantities of fine crude oil, the first time this year. The Sinbad oil field has 16 million cubic feet of natural gas and unexpected production rate of 6,000 barrels per day. (2) Basra Protests Hurt Baker Hughes profits Source: Baker Hugher, iraq-businessnews.com Date 15 January Oilfield services company Baker Hughes has warned the markets that it will take a hit of $80 million as a result of the disruption of its operations in Basra. The company said that after the disruption of its business in Iraq during the fourth quarter of 2013, Baker Hughes resumed operations at the end of December. Due to the lost revenue related to this event, expenses associated with personnel movements and security measures, and other nonrecurring items, the pretax and after-tax profit impact from the disruption in Iraq during the fourth quarter is approximately $80 million, or $0.18 per share.

2 (3) Basra project aims to bring fresh water to all residents Source: mawtani.al-shorfa Date 09 January 2014 The Basra water project is considered one of the largest strategic and vital projects to be implemented by the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works in the drinking water sector, because its overall capacity comes to about 199,000 cubic meters per hour, said ministry media advisor Jassem Mohammed Salem. The cabinet awarded the 275 million euro ($375 million) project to a consortium of Japanese, French and Egyptian companies, which are scheduled to begin to work at the beginning of next year, he said. It took three years to complete the technical and engineering designs for the project, along with conducting laboratory experiments and surveys. The project comprises three phases. First, water will be siphoned out of Shatt al-arab river and al-bidaa canal, which extends from al-nasiriyah to northern Basra. Then a huge plant then will collect, desalinate and purify the incoming water, which will lastly be pumped through a network of pipes to be received by consumers, Salem said. At every phase of the project, Minister of Municipalities and Public Works Adel Muhawder will monitor the project's progress, which is expected to be completed within 30 months and which will be operated and maintained by its construction companies for five years, he added. The project will produce enough potable water to cover the needs of all Basra residents, he said, and is intended to remove the high level of salinity in their water. 2: Thi-Qar Province (1)NESPAK awarded Water project at the East Gharraf Source: henews.com.pk Date: 10 January 2014.

3 Managing Director Amjad A Khan said that the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) has set up its office in Baghdad to deal with the East Gharraf Water project.it marks the restart of NESPAK operations in Iraq after 23 years, and it aims to provide sustainable irrigation and drainage facilities to around 390,000 acres of land in Nassiriya and Kut Governorates, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. NESPAK will provide topographic survey and detailed design services for irrigation and drainage networks. The duration of the project is 25 months. (2) Nassiriya Oil Project Auction Postponed Source: Reuters Date: 14 January The bidding for the Nassiriya Integrated Project will now take place on 19th June, 2014; have been originally scheduled for December 2013, and then 23rd January The main reason of delay of the bidding was to make some necessary changes to the model contract and to give companies more time to consider the new amended contract. The project involves the development of the 4-billionbarrel Nassiriya oilfield, and the building of a 300,000 bpd refinery. 3: Muthana Province Fed Gov. begins work on al-muthanna bridges Source: al-shorfa Date: 15 January 2014

4 The construction of two bridges in the center of al-samawa province has started and it will take 34 month, with 65 billion Iraqi dinars ($56 million) cost, as one of the biggest bridges in Iraq, under 2014 development program. Political Development in the South Region of Iraq 1 : Basra Province SLA calls for dissolving Basra local government Source: Special Date: 16, January, 2014 Federal administration court will enact a final decision related to the case which has been sent by Sabha Al Bazoni, Head of SLA at Basra PC. He asked the Federal administration court to reform Basra local Government because the first session which elected the senior positions like Governor Position and PC chair was not legal and based on the invitation which included only First Basra Alliance members in Basra PC to attend the session Normal legal procedures in this situation require the officials to send an official letter to the new elected members of the Basra PC to invite them to attend the session for electing new senior positions. Security Developments in the South Region of Iraq 1 : Thi-Qar Province

5 (1) Thi-Qar security forces arrested Italian Source: Al-Sumaria Date: 15 January, 2014 Security forces arrested an Italian person because he entered to the province coming from Kurdistan without getting visa from the Iraqi Authority and he violated the residency law in Iraq. (2) Security operation in the desert of Nasiriyah Source: Sahaba newspaper Date: 15 January, 2014 The commander of Al-Rafidain operation center Lt. General Mazhar al-azzawi said that the forces under the command of Al -Rafidain operation and in cooperation with customs police, and tribes began the implementation of a military operation in the desert of Nasiriyah and Samawah searching for al- Qaeda and trapping terrorists "Daash" who escaped from Al -Anbar in coordination with the military operation carried out by the armed forces in Al- Anbar 2 : Maysan Province New military enforcements sent to Al- Anbar province Source: aswataliraq Date: 15 January,2014

6 The 10 th Division, stationed in Al-Imara city, announced sending additional military forces for Al-Anbar province to assist existing forces there in their fight against terrorism. Security sources at the Division said that till now, five military units have been sent to help the forces there and to enhance security presence.