Iraq has estimated the total value of contracts and agreements concluded with American energy companies during Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s July visit to the United States at approximately $200 billion.
Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudair announced this on July 21. According to him, the projects are expected to increase the country’s production capacity, expand associated gas processing and bring American technologies into the oil and gas industry. The minister estimated Iraq’s current production capacity at 4.8 million barrels of oil per day.
The announced package includes seven key arrangements related to field development, oil and gas asset management, energy infrastructure modernisation and the search for new export routes.
At the same time, the $200 billion estimate does not yet mean that the entire amount has already been formalised as binding capital investment. The package includes contracts, framework agreements, memoranda and preliminary arrangements. The final volume of investment will depend on the results of technical studies, commercial negotiations, the agreement of financing terms and the receipt of regulatory approvals.
Chevron expands its presence in Iraq
The American company Chevron has become one of the central participants in the new energy cooperation.
The company is negotiating its participation in the operation of the West Qurna-2 field, one of Iraq’s largest oil assets, as well as the development of the Nasiriyah field. The parties previously signed preliminary documents concerning Nasiriyah, the Balad field and several exploration blocks in Dhi Qar Province.
During a meeting with Chevron’s management, the Iraqi prime minister called on the company to accelerate investment in oil and gas production and the construction of oil refineries, petrochemical plants, pipelines and storage facilities.
The Iraqi side stated that it was prepared to allocate land plots and expedite administrative approvals for major energy projects. Chevron, in turn, expressed interest in fields in the south of the country and in developing infrastructure for the storage and export of raw materials.
The agreements concerning West Qurna-2 and Nasiriyah remain predominantly preliminary. Before final contracts are concluded, Chevron must examine the projects’ geological, technical and commercial data.
Halliburton to manage the Bin Umar and Sindbad fields
The American oilfield services company Halliburton has received a contract from the state-owned Basra Oil Company for the comprehensive management of the development of the Bin Umar and Sindbad oil and gas fields in southern Iraq.
The contract provides for integrated field management services, as well as support for the design, procurement and construction of the necessary infrastructure.
The involvement of Halliburton is expected to help Iraq increase oil and gas recovery from existing assets, introduce modern reservoir management methods and reduce technological losses.
Another agreement has been concluded with the American company HKN Energy for the development of the Himrin field in the north of the country. The Iraqi government approved the project as part of a broader programme to attract American companies to the oil and gas and electric power sectors.
Iraq seeks alternative oil export routes
One of Baghdad’s strategic objectives is to reduce its dependence on routes through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Recent regional crises have demonstrated the vulnerability of Iraq, most of whose oil exports pass through southern terminals. Shipping restrictions and export disruptions have a direct impact on production, budget revenues and the state’s ability to finance infrastructure projects.
Iraq is considering expanding supplies through the Turkish port of Ceyhan and creating a route to the Mediterranean Sea through Syria. The Iraqi and Syrian sides previously discussed transporting oil to the port of Baniyas, including the possibility of restoring existing infrastructure or constructing a new pipeline system.
Chevron is also exploring the possibility of participating in export pipeline and storage projects. If implemented, they would connect the oil fields of southern and northern Iraq with alternative maritime terminals and reduce the country’s dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.
However, such projects will require interstate agreements, large-scale investment and security guarantees. The restoration of pipelines through Syria is complicated by the condition of the infrastructure and the need to ensure the protection of the route along its entire length.
Baghdad turns towards American capital
The current arrangements reflect a broader shift in Iraq’s energy policy towards the United States.
In recent years, Chinese companies have secured a significant share of the country’s new oil and gas projects. Major assets have also been managed by Russian and European operators.
Ali al-Zaidi’s government has announced its intention to give priority to reputable American companies in the energy, telecommunications and technology sectors. To facilitate their entry into the market, the authorities have begun reviewing certain administrative requirements and strengthening the security of oil facilities.
For Iraq, such cooperation is expected to provide access to investment, technologies, oilfield services equipment and political support from Washington. For American companies, the country is attractive because of its large oil reserves, underdeveloped gas sector and need to modernise its infrastructure.
Production growth constrained by OPEC+ agreements
Iraq intends to increase its oil production capacity, but actual production volumes depend on more than investment alone.
The country participates in OPEC+ agreements and is required to comply with the established restrictions. In July, the group’s countries again reaffirmed their commitment to the current arrangements, including the need to compensate for previously exceeding production quotas.
The Iraqi Ministry of Oil previously announced plans to increase production capacity to more than 6 million barrels per day by 2028–2029. Achieving this goal will require the development of new fields, the rehabilitation of existing assets, the expansion of export infrastructure and agreement on a higher quota within OPEC+.
The development of the gas industry remains a separate priority. Iraq is seeking to expand the processing of associated gas, which continues to be flared at fields, and reduce the electric power sector’s dependence on imported fuel.
The authorities plan to increase the utilisation of produced gas to the highest possible level and virtually eliminate its flaring by the end of the decade.
Implementation of agreements will take several years
The package of projects with American companies could become one of the largest investment shifts in the history of Iraq’s oil and gas industry.
However, a significant share of the arrangements remains at a preliminary stage. To proceed to full implementation, the parties must determine the commercial terms, allocation of risks, investment payback periods and security guarantees.
OPEC+ quotas, bureaucratic procedures, the condition of pipeline infrastructure and regional instability remain additional constraints.
If even part of the announced projects is implemented, Iraq will be able to increase oil and gas production, expand processing, reduce its dependence on a single export route and strengthen its position as one of the largest energy producers in the Middle East.
ENERGY, INVESTMENT, IRAQ, OIL, USA
Nibulon Joint Venture LLC invested $22.5 million in the modernization and digitization of agricultural production between 2023 and 2025, including securing EUR12.8 million in long-term financing from the Danish Export and Investment Fund (EIFO), the company’s press service reported.
As part of the modernization, the company upgraded its fleet of agricultural machinery, implemented digital solutions for managing production processes, and adopted a new soil cultivation model, which reduced the number of passes by machinery across the field—a practice that leads to soil compaction—and also lowered fuel consumption and production costs.
The company reported that as a result of the modernization, fuel consumption decreased by 10 liters per hectare, the use of crop protection products was reduced by up to 50%, seed usage was reduced by 10–20%, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) increased by 30%.
The report notes that the implemented measures led to a 50% increase in gross yield and a 65% increase in agricultural machinery productivity.
According to published data, the agricultural division’s EBITDA in 2025 amounted to $329/ha. At the same time, approximately 40% of the agricultural holding’s land bank is located in southern Ukraine, which has been hardest hit by climate change following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. The financial results also include $4.6 million in losses from sunflower crop failures due to drought.
The company also reported that, as part of its efforts to adapt to climate change, it is reviewing its crop rotation structure and testing alternative drought-resistant crops, including sorghum, chickpeas, lentils, and flax.
In addition, during the 2025/26 marketing year, the agricultural holding launched a pilot project for contract farming of corn and sunflowers on an area of approximately 100 hectares, and is also working with seed material for other specialty crops.
It is also noted that the company is developing an irrigation model for the southern regions of Ukraine, which involves irrigating approximately 1,000 hectares of agricultural land.
Currently, Nibulon’s agricultural division cultivates 52,000 hectares of land, comprises 14 branches across four clusters, and operates 41 units of farm equipment.
Prior to the war, Nibulon Joint Venture LLC cultivated 82,000 hectares of land across 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to more than 70 countries worldwide. In 2021, the grain trader exported 5.64 million metric tons of agricultural products—the highest volume in its history. After the war began, the company was forced to relocate its headquarters from Mykolaiv to Kyiv. In addition to 23 grain elevator complexes, Nibulon has its own road and rail transport capabilities, as well as a fleet built at its own shipyard. During wartime, this fleet continues to provide river transport services.
The company is also actively developing its own humanitarian demining unit to restore safety on leased lands and assist Ukraine’s agricultural sector. Nibulon is a certified mine action operator.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, EIFO, INVESTMENT, MODERNIZATION, NIBULON
The first phase of Ukraine’s largest potato processing plant, located in the “Biosens” industrial park (Cherkasy region) with a capacity of 25,000 metric tons per year, is scheduled to begin operations in late 2026 or early 2027, according to Dmytro Kysilevsky, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on economic development.
“At the Biosens Industrial Park, installation of the steel structures for the walls and roof of the first phase of Ukraine’s largest potato processing plant has begun. The investment in the first phase of the plant, which will produce potato flour, amounts to 960 million hryvnias,” he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
Kysilevsky added that the construction of the 6,500-square-meter production building is utilizing weldless joining technology for high-strength steel components, and the production equipment has already been delivered.
“Ukraine currently imports 100% of its potato flour needs, which is brought in from abroad for use in the baking, confectionery, and meat-processing industries, as well as in the production of sauces and instant food mixes. But starting next year, our country will not only meet its own needs but will also become an exporter of potato flour,” the MP noted.
He emphasized that, with the help of state funding, work is currently underway at the “Biosens” industrial park to expand the access road and connect to the gas networks. In December 2025, the government allocated 24.7 million UAH for these projects on a 50:50 co-financing basis.
Kysilevsky noted that a mandatory condition for receiving state funding is the construction of at least 5,000 square meters of industrial space within the industrial park and the involvement of at least two participants.
“Biosens is currently preparing an additional application for further state funding to continue developing the industrial park’s engineering and transportation infrastructure,” he added.
According to Kysilevsky, construction of the plant’s second phase is scheduled for 2027—a French fries production facility with a capacity of 60,000–150,000 metric tons per year, requiring an investment of 2.5 billion hryvnias.
“McDonald’s and KFC currently import french fries for their Ukrainian chains due to the lack of specialized cultivation and processing technologies in our country. But such technologies will be available very soon,” he emphasized.
The plant’s third phase, which will also produce French fries, will require approximately 3 billion UAH in investment. In addition, the IP’s development plan calls for the construction of a 20,000-metric-ton potato storage complex, a facility for processing potato peels into protein and starch, and a greenhouse complex equipped with a cogeneration plant.
To accommodate the future facilities, the industrial park has already initiated the expansion of its existing area from 29.6 hectares to 40 hectares. Another 60-hectare plot located nearby is being considered as a reserve.
As previously reported, the “Biosens” Industrial Park was registered in August 2025 for a term of 30 years. The initiative to create the park came from the local company “Fitolan,” LLC, which is part of the “Mais” group of companies that is building a plant within the “Biosens” Industrial Park.
The agricultural company “Mais” is one of the largest producers of hybrid corn, hybrid sunflower, and soybean seeds in Ukraine and is the main asset of the “Mais” group of companies.
The co-owners of “APK Mais” LLC are Serhiy Tereshchuk, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament in the 4th and 6th convocations, and his wife, Maryna Cherednychenko; “Field-Group” is responsible for potato preservation and processing within the group.
According to “Serbian Economist”, a South Korean consortium led by Incheon International Airport Corporation has withdrawn from the process of awarding a 30-year concession to operate the international airports in Podgorica and Tivat.
On July 18, the Montenegrin government announced that it had received an official letter stating the consortium’s withdrawal from further participation in the process. The reasons for the South Korean side’s decision have not yet been disclosed. The government stated that it does not intend to completely abandon the idea of bringing in a private operator, but will not agree to terms that could conflict with the public interest.
Incheon had been considered the winner of the tender. In April 2026, the Montenegrin government decided to proceed with signing a concession agreement with the South Korean consortium. The proposal called for a one-time payment to the state of 100 million euros, an annual transfer of 35% of the airports’ gross revenue, and approximately 300 million euros in mandatory investments over 30 years. The total financial benefit for the state was estimated at over 1 billion euros.
The investment program was to include terminal expansions, modernization of runway and apron infrastructure, implementation of new passenger service systems, and increases in airport capacity. However, the draft agreement was criticized for lacking a detailed breakdown of the €300 million in investments by individual phases and for making part of the work contingent on the state resolving property issues.
Incheon’s withdrawal poses several risks for Montenegro. The main one is a further delay in the modernization of airports that are strategically important for tourism. An increase in passenger traffic without the expansion of terminals and aprons could exacerbate queues, infrastructure overload, and seasonal disruptions, especially in Tivat.
The country also risks losing out on the planned one-time payment of 100 million euros and delaying the attraction of 300 million euros in private investment. A repeat tender or negotiations with another bidder could take a long time, and new financial terms may prove less favorable.
Reputational uncertainty is another negative factor. If the selected investor withdraws after the government has already made its decision, this could raise questions among other international operators regarding the terms of the tender, legal certainty, and the speed of approval for major infrastructure projects in Montenegro.
In June 2025, Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali stated that Belgrade was interested in managing the airports in Podgorica and Tivat and was prepared to offer significant investments. However, Montenegrin authorities reported at the time that no official bid had been received from Serbia as part of the ongoing tender process.
The first Odesa Investment Congress, dedicated to urban development, investment, and Ukraine’s recovery, took place on July 10 at the SPATIUM Hotel in Odesa and brought together over 300 developers, investors, architects, experts, and government officials.
According to the event organizers, the congress ran throughout the day simultaneously in two thematic halls—“Urban Development” and “Urban Design.”
Participants discussed the investment appeal of the Odesa region, prospects for new development projects, housing policy for reconstruction, the digitalization of the construction industry, the development of medical and rehabilitation facilities, the preservation of Odesa’s historical heritage, and the energy independence of real estate properties.
Among the keynote speakers and panelists were Natalia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine; Ihor Reva, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization; Oleksandr Novitsky, Head of the State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban
Planning of Ukraine; and Yevhen Metzger, Chairman of the Board of PJSC “Ukrfinzhytlo.”
Also participating in the congress were Serhiy Lysak, Head of the Odesa City Military Administration, First Deputy Mayor of Odesa Oleksandr Filatov, Deputy Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration Nataliia Melnychuk, Chief Architect of Odesa Nadiia Novikova, CEO and Owner of SPATIUM Group Oleksandr Seleznyov, as well as representatives of development, architectural, investment, and hotel companies.
Representatives from SPATIUM Group, ZEZMAN Holding, KADORR, “Gefest,” “Two Academicians,” Akvareli, Ribas Hotels, RIEL, UDP, SAGA, Creator-Bud, Avalon, SIGMA+, and CREDO joined the discussions.
According to Alexander Seleznyov, CEO of SPATIUM Group, Odessa’s real estate development market is gradually recovering.
“We are already nearly back to pre-war levels. Old projects have been completed, and we are starting to build new ones,” he said during the congress.
Serhiy Lysak, Head of the Odesa City Military Administration, stated that the city is ready to collaborate with businesses and investors.
“Odesa is open to partnerships, constructive dialogue, and the implementation of joint projects aimed at developing our city,” Lysak emphasized.
Odessa’s Chief Architect, Nadiya Novikova, commenting on the city’s development in light of its status on the UNESCO World Heritage List, noted that changes must occur harmoniously.
“Our goal is for our city to develop—and to do so harmoniously. I don’t think this is anything to be afraid of. We will get to work,” Novikova said.
A separate segment of the program was dedicated to medical development, wellness infrastructure, and rehabilitation and inclusive spaces. The congress also featured a presentation by the Superhumans team in Odesa.
In the Urban Design hall, chief architects of Ukrainian cities and representatives of the professional community discussed modern approaches to urban planning, accessibility, the preservation of architectural heritage, and the development of public spaces.
The congress was held at the SPATIUM Hotel in Arcadia. According to the organizers, this is Odessa’s first five-star medical & wellness aparthotel that operates year-round.
The Odesa Investment Congress concluded with a gala evening, a concert program, and the presentation ceremony for the special Wassily Kandinsky Award.
The event was organized by the DMNTR media group, with SPATIUM Group serving as the general partner.
The Interfax-Ukraine news agency served as the official media partner of the Odesa Investment Congress.
DEVELOPMENT, DMNTR, INVESTMENT, ODESA, Odesa Investment Congress, RECONSTRUCTION, SPATIUM Group
Agroenergy Group plans to implement a project in the Kyiv region to build a deep-processing plant for yellow peas with a total cost of $24.2 million, of which $20.6 million is expected to be raised through financing.
According to the Ukraine Investment Guide 2026, presented at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 (URC2026) in Gdańsk, the plant will have a design capacity of 35,000 metric tons of yellow peas per year.
Once operational, the plant will produce approximately 8,800 metric tons of protein concentrate, 22,000 metric tons of pea starch, as well as pea flour, fiber, and other processed products. The primary target markets are Ukraine, European Union countries, the United States, and Canada.
The catalog states that the project is based on “dry” fractionation technology and involves the creation of a vertically integrated complex that will cover the full cycle of raw material processing and the production of five types of value-added products.
A preliminary feasibility study has already been completed, and the project is ready for implementation. The payback period is 6.5 years at an IRR of 18.3%. The estimated project implementation period is two years.
Agro Energy Group is a diversified Ukrainian agro-industrial group operating in crop production, livestock farming, seed production, agricultural processing, and bioenergy. The group’s land bank totals approximately 10,000 hectares, with its main production facilities located in the Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr regions.
The group owns a farm with a herd of 900 head of cattle, including nearly 350 dairy cows.
The group consists of the following companies: Urozhay LLC, Nasinnya LLC, Iskra LLC, Veremiyivka LLC, and Enerhiya LLC.
