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| 2010-07-17 |
| Kirkuk Governor calls on companies to invest in the province |
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| Kirkuk Governor Abdul-Rahman Mustafa . GLOBE PHOTO/Ako Muhammed |
A newly establish investment board attracts companies to build an airport, oil refinery, and power supplies in the province, says Kirkuk Governor Abdul-Rahman Mustafa in an exclusive interview with "The Kurdish Globe" conducted on Monday. Kirkuk administration to take one dollar from each barrel of its sold oil.
In a meeting last week, you called on investors to come to Kirkuk. Does this mean you have projects ahead?
Of course we have launched work, particularly after founding the Kirkuk Investment Board. Since this foundation, dozens of companies have come to Kirkuk to execute investment projects. Some projects have been handed over to them [the companies], including the Kirkuk play yard project, which is going to be built on a land of 79 donums (197500 square meters) land; this will serve the people of Kirkuk. There are a number of industrial factories agreed upon with companies. But still we need better cooperation, especially from the [Iraqi] ministries and the National Investment Board in Baghdad. Some projects can be dealt with at the Kirkuk Investment Board while others require approval from Baghdad.
There are talks about recycling garbage in Kirkuk. Turkish and American companies have come on line. Where is this project now?
We completely support private sector companies. Yesterday, a number of American companies came to Kirkuk and showed us several project proposals such as electricity projects, and building an airport and oil refinery. Also a project will treat the city's garbage to be recycled for producing power. We support the idea completely and we are negotiating to reach an approval.
Can you explain more about those projects?
These all are investment projects to which several companies have applied to work on. They are our plans and are executed by the [Iraqi] ministries. As for the refinery, an American company has already finished with designing it; the Oil Ministry has presented it to companies to start executing it. The refinery will be able to produce 150,000 liters per day.
What about the airport?
We still are looking for an investor to take the project.
What happened to the tourist project in Pirde?
For a long time we have prepared this plan. That place, especially the area in between Pride and Dubis [towns], can become a very attractive tourist place. We are waiting and looking for a trustworthy investor to take over.
Why are the projects at early stages? What are your achievements?
These projects we talk about are only the [private sector] investment projects. Meanwhile, we have accomplished big achievements. Thousands of projects have been conducted in Kirkuk. The Kirkuk of 2010 is not the one of 2003. Kirkuk now has changed. We have built 90 small parks inside the city; two big parks are under construction as well as the Kirkuk play yard. A sanitary treatment project has been carried out by the PRT, the American Reconstruction Team. The project collects the city garbage in a scientific way. The garbage used to be taken to a place near Erbil and Suleimaniya roads; it was burned there and the dirty smoke used to pollute Kirkuk air. Now the garbage is taken south of the city to a place called Zindana. We also have renovated most of Kirkuk's roads. We had only four overpasses in 2003; now we have nine. Road renovation projects are continuing. We have carried out dozens of water and electricity projects as well.
But Kirkuk still needs more cleaning.
Of course it does; every place does. Erbil and Suleimaniya also need it, although we must not be compared with them. They started much earlier and have more capability. They benefited from an investment law facilitated for investors to help them. We also cannot be compared with the other 14 Iraqi provinces in terms of ability. With a little funding, we have been able to have big achievements that we are proud of. Thanks to my personal attempts, now we finally succeeded in pushing for passing a law that allows Kirkuk to receive $1 from every barrel of oil and gas (produced in the province). As we have been informed, this share makes nearly US$80 million for the sales over the last three to four months. This brings us enough capabilities. With this money, we plan to carry out several projects such as build a sewage network all over Kirkuk. But first it requires Baghdad to approve the project and then to dedicate the funding.
Why not compare your capabilities with Erbil and Suleimaniya or with the other 14 provinces? Kirkuk is known as one of richest cities in the world?
Yes. But the people of Kirkuk have been deprived from this wealth as a result of wrongful policies conducted by the Baath Regime. The oil revenue brought this city nothing but destruction and displacement. Now, thanks to our attempts, for the first time in the history a law is passed giving a little amount of [the sales of] Kirkuk oil to its people. True Kirkuk is rich, but its people had no share. Practically, we haven't benefited from it but are preparing to receive it.
Let's talk about the issue of trespassing, which has raised controversy. Where does that issue stand?
The phenomenon of trespassing [occupying government lands and property] is a serious problem that left us unable to perform several projects; we often decided to build something but found out the dedicated land already been occupied by someone else. For example, a project to build a school in Rahimawa quarter has been halted for several years. We tried to build a kindergarten in Azadi but we couldn't--and so many other projects. The occupied government properties have been in the hands of some people who are making business out of them. We recently launched a campaign to take over the trespassers. Some people are occupying thousands of square meters of land; they have built garages, shops, or residential buildings for their own benefit. We will never let this continue.
There are civilians who may become victims of the campaign. Some have had to buy illegal houses.
We haven't destroyed any of those houses. But we won't allow--from now on--illegal houses to be built. We have destroyed garages and shops that had been built illegally for personal benefit, and maybe some that belong to people not from the city. As for the illegal houses, we leave it for the central government to decide.
Who are the foreigners occupying Kirkuk?
We have found people from different places trespassing. We accept trespasses neither from the foreigners nor from the people from Kirkuk itself.
Does this equal an earlier allegation that Kurds from Erbil and Suleimaniya were brought in and settled in Kirkuk?
No, that is not true. That is something different. Those whom we are talking about also probably include people from the southern provinces. By the way, the Kirkuk administration hasn't brought people from Suleimaniya and Erbil to settle in Kirkuk. In addition, there are still a large number of Kirkuk people we haven't been able to help return home.
Why aren't the people of Kirkuk back yet? Does this mean the situation in Kirkuk has not improved?
No, the Kirkuk situation is very good now. Some of the [displaced] people have settled in other cities and don't want to return. For those who have come back, we helped them as much as the administration could afford. And also, you know, there is Article 140 of the Constitution that aims to solve this issue. Delays in implementing that article have made most of the displaced people unable to return.
What do you think about Article 140?
It has been behind schedule a lot. We hope the coming [Iraqi] government can implement it.
Will this article solve the problem or create more problems in the future?
We don't have problems in Kirkuk. The disputes are among the politicians. The Kirkuk components of Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and Chaldean-Assyrians all live together as brothers. In the last seven years, did you hear about an ethnic or sectarian problem happening in Kirkuk? Even political problems do not exist inside the city. Kirkuk is not a powder keg; it is a bunch of flowers. However, Article 140 is a constitutional item and must be implemented regardless of objecting political parties or supporting parties. We all have to commit to the Constitution, which has been voted for democratically by the Iraqi people. It is the best solution for solving the issue of Kirkuk and similar areas.
Speaking of the coexistence in Kirkuk, Mr. Governor, one coming from the Erbil and Suleimaniya [northern] roads can notice the neighborhoods are inhabited by Kurds. While coming from the Baghdad [southern] road, the neighborhoods are inhabited by Arabs. This looks like a kind of division. How do you see it?
No. To whichever neighborhood you go, you find ethnic diversity. It is true that the neighborhoods of Rahimawa, Imam Qassim, Azadi Shorija, and Tapa are majority Kurdish. Probably Musala, Tis'een, Baghdad Road neighborhoods are majority Turkmen. Wahid Huzairan and others are of an Arab majority. But still every ethnicity is found in every neighborhood. This is not division but a mixture and coexistence.
On security, it has been suggested that international peace forces replace American forces. What is your opinion?
It is just a suggestion till now. It needs to be studied whether it falls in the interest of Kirkuk people. Even still, Kirkuk security forces are able to protect the city and they have proved this. The security situation now is stable--we don't say 100 percent, but in comparison with the past years, people now feel safer and happier with the current security situation.
Don't you think without the presence of an international force, Kirkuk will face problems in the future?
Absolutely not. It will not face any problem by God's will.
Now, Arabs and Turkmen object to the presence of Kurdish Peshmarga forces in Kirkuk. Kurds are not happy with the presence of the Arab Sahwa armed groups.
These are politicians' points of view. The presence of all of those forces has proved that they are necessary to protect Kirkuk's security. I am optimistic with the current forces we have in Kirkuk; they along with the local police are able to keep stability.
Before his resignation, the former Electricity Minister promised to add 50 megawatts to Kirkuk's 250 mega watts. has this promise been met?
Yes, they have fulfilled the promise. And we have signed an agreement with the former minister that Kirkuk should not be oppressed anymore; no matter how much our portion of electricity, we don't want to receive more or less than our fair rights. We agreed with him that our portion should not be controlled by Baghdad any longer. We won't accept it if they lessen our fair portion.
You had demanded for 300 megawatts; this is half of Kirkuk's needs.
It is even less than half by the way.
So, what are the future plans?
We encourage investors to bring power projects. And we are working on two huge power supplies in Dubis; they together will produce 320 megawatts. In the next two or three years, Kirkuk will be able to produce 650 mega watts. These plants will be connected to the national network; they are not for Kirkuk alone. The electricity problem must be solved altogether all over the country.
What projects do you promise to the people of Kirkuk in the coming years?
There are a large number of projects. We have plans for beautifying the city, health projects, water and sewage networks, electricity, building a university campus. There are residential complexes. Renovating villages is a part of the projects. The airport, the refineries, and many other projects--we are working on them.
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