Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani Concludes Baiji District Visit Affirming Nationwide Commitment to Natural Resource Investment in Iraq

Baghdad-INA   
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, concluded his visit to the Baiji District in Salah Al-Din Governorate, where he was briefed on a number of important projects, during which he inaugurated the isomerization Unit in the Baiji Refinery.
 
In a press statement in Baiji District, Al-Sudani announced the recovery of substantial quantities of equipment, devices, and parts stolen from the North Refinery in Baiji during the presence of ISIS terrorists. These items were recovered from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq after cooperation among various official and unofficial parties.
 
The Prime Minister highlighted his visit to the Al-Fatah Bridge and Baiji District sewage projects. He emphasized the need for swift completion and the removal of obstacles that are slowing down progress.
 
Al-Sudani also discussed his visit to the Baiji thermal power station project site. He provided updates on the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, including the first and second Baiji gas power stations. Additionally, he highlighted the meeting with local notables, tribal sheiks, and officials from service and security departments in Baiji District.
 
Here are the key points from his press statement at the conclusion of the visit:
 
 Baiji District endured significant damage during ISIS's presence and liberation operations, impacting its services and overall state.
 
 
 After the recovery of stolen parts, including crucial devices and expensive equipment, we visited the North Refinery, the recovery requiring time and effort for repair.
 
 
 A patriotic citizen initiated the recovery of this equipment from the Kurdistan Region, thanks to collaboration among official and unofficial entities.
 
 
 Multiple parties worked together, using trucks filled with equipment, to recover these stolen items, carrying a substantial financial value in the millions of dollars.
 
 
 The revival of the North Refinery will be accomplished by skilled Iraqi experts, showcasing national competency in implementation.
 
 The responsibility of restarting the North Refinery lies with Iraqi experts who possess valuable experience in implementation.
 
 The national staff expertise successfully managed restoring Salah Al-Din Refinery No. 1, boasting a capacity of 70 thousand barrels per day, as well as Salah Al-Din refinery No. 2, with a capacity of 72 thousand barrels.
 
 The Ministry's skilled professionals and supportive companies possess the necessary capabilities to rehabilitate the crucial Baiji Refinery, benefiting all of Iraq.
 
 Following the arrival of the stolen parts, which account for over 60% of the necessary equipment for rehabilitation, we have taken the decisive step to initiate refinery restoration.
 
 In an effort to accelerate the process, we convened a crucial meeting through the Ministry of Oil involving all relevant agencies. During this meeting, we collectively conferred administrative authority upon the company's general manager to expedite the implementation.
 
 We attached considerable importance to the second gas power station, a project that, when finalized, will generate 1014 megawatts of power. This facility suffered destruction during the conflict against ISIS.
 
 The Ministry of Electricity is in the process of finalizing discussions with Siemens. A decision on proceeding with the contract and subsequent implementation will be reached within two weeks.
 
 Concurrently, the Ministry of Electricity is engaged in negotiations with Qatari companies to secure an investment contract. This contract aims to rehabilitate the Baiji thermal power station, with an initial capacity of up to 1,320 megawatts in the first phase, and a potential expansion to 2,200 megawatts in the second phase.
 
 The government is actively pursuing medium-term projects to introduce new energy sources, catering to the growing demands of the system and the increasing rate of development.
 
 The Ministry of Health included the establishment of a 100-bed hospital in Baiji District as part of a project that includes 15 hospitals, at the district level in all governorates.
 These hospitals will share a standardized design, followed by fulfilling the necessary requirements before officially announcing their commencement.
 
 The urea fertilizer project holds significant importance and is currently under negotiation between the Ministry of Industry and an investing company following the Ministry's recent conference focusing on investment opportunities.
 
 An oil project is on the horizon, poised for potential investment.
 
 Our strategic direction involves harnessing abundant natural resources to cater to local demand. This approach paves the way for private sector involvement and addresses various challenges, notably unemployment, by creating job opportunities.
 
 A comprehensive meeting, attended by officials, community leaders, influencers, and activists, allowed us to explore proposals and reaffirm the government's commitment to this distinct, marked by its unique characteristics.