The Council of Ministers decides to extend a memorandum of understanding regarding shared oil fields

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani chaired the 17th regular session of the Council of Ministers, during which the general conditions, service, security and economic issues and files concerned with the needs and requirements of citizens were discussed, as well as the follow-up of strategic plans and the progress of implementing public service projects.
At the outset of the session, the Prime Minister appreciated "the work of the ministries during the blessed month of Ramadan," noting that "it was the first month that did not witness a security breach, in addition to the fact that the holy month was characterized by the highest number of hours in supplying electric power."
He continued the pace of implementation by state institutions and agencies of the government program, stressing that "the ministries should not hesitate to provide the concerned committees with implementation indicators, so that we can stand on strengths and weaknesses."
With regard to the Iraqi citizens in the Republic of Sudan, the Prime Minister directed the competent authorities to make every effort to evacuate our citizens, and to ensure their security as a result of the deteriorating security situation there.
Within the framework of the Council of Ministers’ follow-up to the development file and the investment plan and ensuring its continuity, the Council of Ministers approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Economy (230027 s), which stipulates confirming the implementation of the amended Cabinet Resolution (14 of 2022) regarding the entry into force of the powers of the Minister of Planning, the competent minister and the head of the entity not associated with the Ministry. And the Governor, to implement the projects of the investment plan until the issuance of the Federal General Budget Law and the instructions for facilitating the implementation of its provisions for the year 2023. 
In the oil wealth management file, the Council of Ministers approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Energy Council (23027i) for the year 2023, which provides for extending the validity of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Oil in the Republic of Iraq and the Ministry of Oil in the State of Kuwait regarding the common border fields for a period of two years, starting from September 6. 2022, until September 6, 2024, taking into account that it is not a reason for requesting additional financial allocations for the Ministry, and that any amendment, supplement or contract resulting from the implementation of this memorandum is submitted to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers; To study it and give an opinion on it before signing it. Also, the Ministry of Oil should follow up the matter with the concerned authorities to provide a technical study for the joint fields.
The Cabinet approved the recommendation of the Energy Ministerial Council (23025i) for the year 2023, which includes approving the recommendation of the Central Committee for Review and Approval of the referral in the Ministry of Oil, to refer the second phase of the gas drying project, for the Gharraf oil field, to the consortium of the Oil Projects Company / Ministry of Oil and Company ( Italian (PEG) project for the amount of the submitted commercial offer, amounting to (320,884,293) dollars, with a period of implementation (35) months, and a guarantee (12) months (as far as the issue relates to financial validity).
And the Cabinet decided to approve the amendment of the first paragraph of Cabinet Resolution (23070) for the year 2023 regarding principles of cooperation for the energy program in Iraq, the second phase, to become as follows: “Approving the signing of principles of cooperation for the energy program in Iraq, the second phase, between the Ministry of Electricity and Siemens.
” (Siemens Energy Global Gmbh), which specializes in the field of power plants.
And as part of the follow-up to the services file, the Council of Ministers approved the continuation of the contract between Babil Governorate and (GCITS Babel Limited), (a consortium of companies) referred to in Cabinet Resolution (242 of 2020), regarding the contract for the large Hilla sewage project / first phase.
After many years of delay, the Council of Ministers ended the land crisis on which the People's International Stadium was built, by agreeing to allocate the stadium's real estate to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Council also decided to stop all lawsuits filed about the real estate, the subject of the research, including the lawsuit filed by the Real Estate Bank.

The Council approved the proposal of controls for the sale of distinguished vehicle numbers, in the public auction, prepared by the General Traffic Directorate, as well as the allocation of property numbered (7/32/M11), for the benefit of the General Traffic Directorate; In order for it to implement the project to establish a production line for traffic signs, in an investment capacity, without legal violations.
The Cabinet also decided to approve what was stated in the Ministry of Interior’s letter, dated March 16, 2023, regarding the national card fees.
During the session, the Council considered a number of topics and files presented on its agenda and took the following decisions:
First: Approval of the following:
1- Allocating the approved financial amount in the contributions table, according to the memorandum of the Cabinet Affairs and Committees Department, without specifying the names of the priority organizations; The fact that all of them constitute financial obligations that Iraq must pay.
2- Ministries and agencies not associated with the Ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Finance / the Iraqi Fund for External Development; For the purpose of scheduling the sums owed by Iraq towards Arab or international organizations, or paying them until December 31, 2022.

3- Taking into account the nomination of representatives of the Republic of Iraq, with high qualifications and professional specialization, in Arab and international organizations; In order for them to compete with the candidates of other countries.

4- Coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if the ministry, or an entity not affiliated with a ministry, wants to withdraw from an Arab or international organization.

5- Coordinating with the Ministries of (Foreign Affairs and Finance), in the event of a desire to participate with an Arab or international organization, after obtaining the official approvals from the Ministry or the sectoral authority.

6- The ministry, or the entity not associated with a ministry, can make a transfer from its financial allocations, if it wishes to contribute to a new organization and a financial allocation is not available for it; To pay its financial contributions to the Federal General Budget Law.

7- Recommending to the House of Representatives instructing the parliamentary committees and concerned departments not to reduce the amounts of contributions of ministries and entities not linked to a ministry to Arab and international organizations and to include them fully in the federal budget law.

Second / approval of the following:
1- Granting a subsequent license with the power to negotiate and sign a draft agreement regarding mutual exemption from entry visas for holders of diplomatic, special, service and public affairs passports, between the government of the Republic of Iraq and the government of the People's Republic of China, for the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Relations Bilateral, for signing the aforementioned draft agreement on June 6, 2022, based on the provisions of Article (6) of the Treaty Contracting Law No. (35) of 2015.

2- Approval of a draft law ratifying an agreement on mutual exemption from entry visas for holders of diplomatic, special, service and public affairs passports, between the government of the Republic of Iraq and the government of the People's Republic of China, signed in Baghdad on June 6, 2022, and referring it to the House of Representatives.

Third: The Ministry of Commerce takes the necessary measures to destroy the quantities of wheat (unfit for human consumption).

Fourth / Approval of the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Social Services (23019 G), which concerns a proposal by nuclear science expert Dr. (Hamid Muaidi Al-Bahli) to distribute the amount of the budget for cleansing Iraq of depleted uranium, amounting to (4,929,000,000) dinars, only four billion, nine hundred and twenty-nine million dinars To be distributed among the budgets of the agencies participating in the purification process.

Fifth / The Council of Ministers authorized the competent minister, or the head of an entity not associated with a ministry, from among those covered by the Opinion Council Law (9 of 2011), to choose two experts with specialization, who are not employees, to attend the meetings of the Opinion Council, without being members therein, in return for a reward. Financial not more than (500) thousand dinars per session.