The Council of Ministers Held the 16th Regular Session Chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani

Baghdad-INA  
 The Council of Ministers, in its session held today, Tuesday, issued several decisions, including considering tomorrow an official holiday for Yazidi citizens on the occasion of the Yazidi New Year, approving recommendations for converting the land of Al-Rashid Camp into green spaces, opening Sinbad Street, rehabilitating and opening the atomic energy road.
 
A statement issued by the media office of the Prime Minister, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), said that “Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, chaired the 16th regular session of the Council of Ministers. The session discussed the general situation, issues, and files related to the government's implementation of its program based on priorities of services, combating corruption, poverty, and unemployment, and achieving steps of economic reform.
 
At the beginning of the session, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of continuing the momentum achieved by the government program and stressing that the citizens should see state agencies' diligence in implementing projects they promise to complete to consolidate public trust. He also urged accelerating efforts to reinforce trust in the coming weeks and months.
Regarding monitoring and oversight, His Excellency directed all ministries to submit monthly reports that include non-oil revenues collected by the ministries and review them.
 
As the holy Eid al-Fitr approaches, he directed the Eid holiday from Thursday, April 20, until Monday, April 24, 2023. May Allah bless Iraq and the Islamic world with peace and stability.
 
With the celebrations of our Yazidi people for the Yazidi New Year, the Council of Ministers approved that tomorrow, Wednesday, April 19th of this year (2023), be an official holiday for Yazidi citizens. The council also approved that each year's first Wednesday of April will be an official holiday for the Yazidi component.
The Council of Ministers continued to discuss the issues on its agenda and made the necessary decisions.
 
In the sector of land and infrastructure development for the capital, Baghdad, and projects to reduce overpopulation and pressure on the city center and its outskirts, the Council of Ministers approved the recommendations outlined in the minutes of the meeting held in the office of the Prime Minister on March 15, 2023, to transform the land of Al-Rashid Camp into green spaces, opening Sinbad Street, and rehabilitating and opening the Energy Road, according to the following:
 
1- Re-allocation of all lands of Al-Rashid Camp to the Municipality of Baghdad (except for the Al-Rashid Military Hospital) to enable the Municipality of Baghdad to start projects.
2- The Municipality of Baghdad (Mayoralty Of Baghdad) shall refer the designs and plans for the project to a consulting company for designs and development of master plans and present them to the Prime Minister for approval and implementation under the supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister.
3- Transferring the cement factory of the Iraqi General Company for Cement Industry, one of the formations of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, which has been suspended since 1982, to another location to use it for spare parts for other factories because it conflicts with the implementation of the Al-Rasheed project.
4- The Ministry of Health undertakes the establishment of a second Medical City in Baghdad at Al-Rasheed Military Hospital, which is allocated to the Ministry of Health in an area of (401) dunums.
5- The executing company of the Al-Rasheed Camp project must establish an air base on the outskirts of Baghdad after obtaining the necessary approvals as a substitute for the Al-Salam air base.
6- Stopping all funding for the lands of Al-Rashid Camp that conflict with the implementation of the project, and no part of it can be invested outside this vision, and canceling previous cabinet decisions.
 
In the framework of the efforts made to develop the oil sector and to resolve the legal and contractual problems that hinder development and expansion, the Council of Ministers approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Energy (32032) for the year 2023 regarding the approval of the settlement between the Basra Oil Company and the consortium of (Shell and Petronas) companies.
 
In the oil and energy sectors, the Council of Ministers approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Energy (23026) for the year 2023 regarding the direct invitation to convert the Sadr gas station (1, 2) from the simple cycle to the combined cycle, according to the following:
1- Approval of the recommendation of the Central Committee for Review and Approval of the Referral in the Ministry of Electricity taken at its third session, referral of the direct invitation No. (MOE-HQ14-2021) converting Al-Sadr gas station (1,2) from a simple cycle to a combined cycle by an American company (Stellar Energy) for a total amount of (288,598,800), and a specific price of (877,200) dollars, an increase of (3.2%) For estimated costs, with a total capacity of (229) megawatts, with an implementation period of (36) months, equivalent to (1095) days. The Ministry of Electricity will review contractual procedures following the laws, regulations, and instructions in effect. All equipment will be of European and American origins, and the powerplants will follow American specifications.
2- Authorizing the Ministry of Electricity to complete the referral and contracting procedures according to its financial authorization.
 
The Council of Ministers also approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Social Services (23012), according to the following:
- Approval of the national policy for the sustainability of urban development projects (Nakheel- PALMS) and its implementation plan, according to what was stated in the letter of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research / University of Karbala.
The Council of Ministers agreed to consider the deceased in the Ministry of Electricity (Qasim Hassan Ajil Aliwi, Ahmed Zaki Nabat) as a result of their injury during work as contractors under Cabinet Resolution (315 of 2019), and to facilitate their pension paperwork, based on the Unified Retirement Law, and for the Federal Service Council to undertake the necessary procedures to appoint one of their relatives.
 
In the sector of financial and administrative reform, the Council of Ministers approved the submission of the records detailed in the statements contained in the Federal Board of Supreme Audit letter dated March 6, 2023, as quickly as possible to complete the procedures for controlling public funds, and to attach considerable importance to this matter, while providing Investigative data committees shall be formed within (20) working days starting from the date of issuance of this decision, otherwise, investigative committees shall be formed to identify the defaulters and submit their recommendations within a period not exceeding (30) days.