Q&A: Ali Shaddad al-Faris, MP from Basra
One of the plaintiffs in the landmark Federal Supreme Court case against Kurdistan's independent oil sector discusses fallout from the ruling as well as Parliament's role in energy sector oversight.
BASRA - Basra provincial council leader turned federal MP Ali Shaddad al-Faris said he joined lawsuits against the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) independent oil sector because it deprived Basra province of oil funds.
Faris said the oil capital of Basra is responsible for most of state revenue but doesn't get corresponding benefits. Faris said the KRG's management of its oil trade — without federal authorities, while still receiving a portion of state revenues — effectively deprives other provinces of additional funds. He claims Basra province alone is owed 30 trillion Iraqi dinars ($206 million) in revenue distribution from a petrodollar fund in the annual budget.
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