Arab News Digest

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The President of the Republic stresses the need to expedite the approval of the oil and gas law

The President of the Republic, Abd al-Latif Jamal Rashid, stressed to the chairman and members of the Oil and Gas Committee in Parliament the need to expedite the approval of the oil and gas law in a way that guarantees the Iraqis to enjoy their national wealth with justice and equality.

A presidential statement stated: “The President of the Republic received today the Chairman of the Parliamentary Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Committee, MP Haibat al-Halbousi, the first and second deputy heads of the committee, and a number of its members.”

During the meeting, the President stressed the need to expedite the approval of the oil and gas law, in a way that guarantees the Iraqis to enjoy their national wealth in fairness and equality, and that it belongs to the people and future generations, indicating that the approval of the law is important in resolving outstanding issues between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

The President touched on the need to support the oil industry, especially with regard to investment projects in the sectors of gas, oil exploration, and refining industries, and to address the obstacles it encounters, stressing that it has priorities in the government program.

The President of the Republic stressed the need for good planning and management and following modern methods in implementing projects aimed at increasing and improving the level of oil production in the country, and working to find appropriate mechanisms to benefit from the gas wealth in the country and not waste it, and reduce dependence on imported oil derivatives.

The President of the Republic spoke about his participation in the United Nations Water Conference held in New York, and the realistic picture put forward by the Iraqi delegation about the dangers facing the country as a result of water scarcity, which has begun to affect the lives and livelihoods of citizens in general.

The President also stressed the importance of taking urgent measures to confront the water crisis and reduce its risks by finding innovative and sustainable relief solutions at the local, regional and international levels, stressing that during his meetings with a number of leaders of the participating countries, he sensed solidarity and support for Iraq in facing water scarcity and climate changes represented by desertification and drought, which bears a heavy burden.

For his part, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Committee affirmed the committee’s interest in the President’s directives, and work to invest the country’s natural resources in the best way, in a manner that achieves progress and well-being for our country and our people, calling on the president to adopt the water file in order to find solutions to reduce its effects.

Al-Halbousi indicated that the committee has been working to approve the oil and gas law that has been stalled in parliament for years, pointing out that there is a desire among most blocs to legislate this law, which will reflect positively on strengthening and developing the reality of the oil sector in Iraq.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

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