- Continuing its bid to make oil transparent, the Oil and Energy Committee steps up its demands that the Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs liberalize press access to oil officials.
Last week the Committee accused the Oil Ministry of releasing information about oil revenue and contracts in a piecemeal fashion to certain favored media organizations. The Committee wants the Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Sharistani to allow all senior oil officials to speak to all the press.

The Council of Representatives committee and the ministry have long battled over the transparency of energy affairs. Although there is nominally an Oil Minister, Abdul Kareem Liaybi, the energy ministries and the flow of information from them is believed to be firmly in the grip of Sharistani.

The Committee's economic working group demanded the Iraqi government establish a specialized media center for oil projects.

On Jan. 22 the Oil Ministry selective released information on oil revenues. Crude oil exports rose last December to more than 66 million barrels with $7 billion USD (8 trillion IQD) income. This scoop was handed to a favored media outlet much to the chagrin of competitor companies.

Committee member Furat al-Sharei told AKnews he and his colleagues do not know why the ministry is being so partial in its dealings with the press.