Canada and Iraq’s Oil (yes, Canada’s bidding for it)

Got this one via a well-informed Iraq commentator . Turns out that Canada’s OGI Group (an oil company based in Western Canada) has won a contract to ‘develop’ an Iraqi oil field (the Himrin oil field). It’s one of those upbeat business everything-is-rosy sorts of stories.


Got this one via a well-informed Iraq commentator . Turns out that Canada’s OGI Group (an oil company based in Western Canada) has won a contract to ‘develop’ an Iraqi oil field (the Himrin oil field). It’s one of those upbeat business everything-is-rosy sorts of stories.

This needs some follow-up. Not knowing where the oil field is, it’s hard to know what these people are thinking. It’s apparently a small-potatoes-kind of field, because none of the big American companies wanted the contract. But why would a Canadian company want to be in such a risky situation? Is this Canada’s way into the war? We really didn’t want to be there but now we’ve got our own little oilfield so we’ve got to protect it? It’s hard to see how that could work politically. So maybe the Americans have decided to give Canadian oil an Iraqi field as payment for future services rendered? Or maybe as a generous gift in the hopes of future reciprocity?

Author: Justin Podur

Author of Siegebreakers. Ecology. Environmental Science. Political Science. Anti-imperialism. Political fiction. Teach at York U's FES. Author. Writer at ZNet, TeleSUR, AlterNet, Ricochet, and the Independent Media Institute.

4 thoughts on “Canada and Iraq’s Oil (yes, Canada’s bidding for it)”

  1. Hey Justin, Thanks for the
    Hey Justin, Thanks for the interesting tid bit of information. My take would be that the contract, because it is “small-potatoes”, will be used mainly for PR purposes. A claim, no matter how small, that Canada is now getting a piece of the “reconstruction” (or is it further destruction?) pie. This will probably be used along with other small contracts, over time, to demonstrate better US-Canada relations, that we are fiends again, after not “officially” participating in the invasion of Iraq. My two cents…

    Cheers,
    Chris

  2. Re: “So maybe the Americans
    Re: “So maybe the Americans have decided to give Canadian oil”

    For the purposes of the American Imperial Agenda It doesn’t matter //who “ownes” the oil// so long as the Oil is sold in US dollars.

    Regards,
    Dmytri.

  3. I’m sorry to say that there
    I’m sorry to say that there are many good things that are happening in Iraq these days.
    I don’t agree with US invasion of Iraq but the people are suffering before and to this day, however, we should not blame the people or the local or international companies who are working inside Iraq. I trust that the Iraqi people should think positively what other countries are doing in their turf.
    I’m afraid only the bad things happening in Iraq are being published and only few good things are in the open.
    I would actually uphold that Canadian OGI was awarded the contract, at least they could share their expertise to the Iraqi people who suffered a lot.
    Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?

    Did you know that the Iraqi government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

    Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?

    Did you know that Iraq’s higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers?

    Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2004 for the re-established Fulbright program?

    Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5- 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

    Did you know that Iraq’s Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers?

    Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

    Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

    Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

    Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

    Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

    Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October 2004?

    Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

    Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

    Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

    Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a recent televised debate recently?

    OF COURSE WE DIDN’T KNOW!

    WHY DIDN’T WE KNOW? OUR MEDIA DOESN’T TELL US!

    I just wish and pray that PEACE will be upon us all.

    Nilda

  4. What is the trading Sysbol
    What is the trading Sysbol of thes OGI group with offices in
    Calgary, Houston, Sanaa and Baghdad

    Many thanks

Comments are closed.