Baghdad-INA
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired today, Tuesday, the second regular session of the Council of Ministers, during which the overall situation in the country was discussed, agenda items were reviewed, and the necessary decisions were taken.
“At the outset of the session, the Prime Minister directed the mobilization of efforts to follow up on the maintenance of power stations, secure fuel supplies, and work toward increasing electricity supply hours for citizens,” stated the Media Office of The Prime Minister in a statement, received by The Iraqi News Agency-INA.
The statement added, “The Prime Minister also instructed ministers to give due attention to direct engagement with citizens, listening to their concerns and following up on their complaints, as well as reviewing procedures related to citizens’ transactions in state institutions and reducing bureaucracy”.
Prime Minister Al-Zaidi further stressed the need to direct government teams to involve citizens in evaluating municipal, health, and educational services in their areas, while monitoring markets and regulating prices through independent follow-up mechanisms to ensure the stability of food prices and essential commodities for Iraqi citizens.
The statement noted that “With regard to the preparation of the government program in accordance with the ministerial program approved by the Council of Representatives, the Council of Ministers approved the formation of a committee headed by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, with representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Advisory Commission, and each ministry, for the purpose of finalizing the government program and submitting it to the Council of Ministers for approval”.
It continued that ,”The Council of Ministers also approved the implementation by ministers and entities not affiliated with a ministry of the detailed ministerial program according to its specified timelines, considering it a roadmap and a binding commitment document before the Iraqi people and the Council of Representatives”.
Regarding the Eid Al-Adha holiday, the Council of Ministers approved declaring an official holiday in all ministries and state institutions from Tuesday, May 26, to Saturday, May 30, on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, with official work to resume on Sunday, May 31. The Council also approved declaring an official holiday on Thursday, June 4, in all ministries and government institutions on the occasion of Eid Al-Ghadir.
The Council of Ministers also hosted the Chairman of the Federal Commission of Integrity and the Head of the Iraqi Fund for Assets Recovery. The Prime Minister directed the Commission to submit periodic reports on the most prominent activities and efforts related to the recovery of state funds and to place the recovery of funds and convicted individuals among the Commission’s priorities. He also stressed the importance of utilizing international relations to encourage host countries to cooperate with national sectoral authorities and the judiciary in this regard.
The Prime Minister further stressed the need for the Commission to proceed with implementing e-governance and comprehensive digital transformation across state institutions, as an urgent necessity dictated by the requirements of implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
As part of government efforts related to environmental protection, improvement, and public health preservation, the Council of Ministers approved the following:
First: Approval of the proposals submitted by the National Committee for Reducing Plastic Pollution concerning the reduction of plastic bag usage, including, within six months of the issuance of this decision, prohibiting the free distribution of plastic shopping bags, banning their use in bakeries, and banning their importation, while replacing them with environmentally friendly biodegradable alternatives. The decision also includes imposing a business and professions fee on factories producing nylon bags.
Second: Approval of imposing environmental service fees, including environmental monitoring and assessment fees for plastic bag producers, with part of the revenues allocated to supporting environmental projects, monitoring programs, and environmental awareness campaigns.
Third: Formation of a specialized committee tasked with establishing mechanisms to support and encourage sorting and recycling projects, transition toward paper bags, and investment in paper industries. The Ministry of Environment will also conduct awareness and educational campaigns on the dangers of plastic bag usage.
The Council of Ministers approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Council for Economy regarding the pricing of diesel engine oil products for a period of three months, provided that the Ministry of Oil submits a technical and commercial study on the matter.
The Council of Ministers also approved the allocation by the Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Industry and Minerals of one million tons of sulfur at international bulletin prices, in accordance with the relevant approved regulations and procedures, to settle the debt owed to the companies KEPPT and Maysan.
The Council of Ministers further approved the recommendations of the negotiating team regarding the financial and administrative obligations related to the two contracts concluded with the Republic of Vietnam, in accordance with what was presented during the Council of Ministers session concerning the settlement.
The Council of Ministers voted to adopt the recommendations of the Industrial Coordination Council (Resolution No. 7 of 2026), including the approval of the recommendations of the joint working team to identify brick factories targeted for conversion to liquefied gas usage in the Nahrawan area for a period of one year from the date of issuance of this decision, with a commitment to relocate the factories to another location.
In the education sector, the Council of Ministers approved exempting the scholarship program for graduates of gifted schools in Iraq, to be implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, from the provisions of Paragraph Third of Council of Ministers Resolution No. 11 of 2026, considering it a qualitative program aimed at establishing a solid scientific foundation.
In the electricity sector, the statement mentioned that, “the Council of Ministers approved contracting with investment companies producing electrical power, provided that the first four months cover the summer peak load period of 2026 under the same previous terms and pricing, with Council of Ministers approval to be obtained every four months for the purchase of electricity for the remaining duration of the contract. The Ministry of Finance will provide the necessary allocations for purchasing electrical power”.
Within the same context, the Council of Ministers approved authorizing the Ministry of Electricity to sign a contract addendum in accordance with the agreement concluded with investment companies producing electrical power, in a manner that reduces the unit cost of electricity below the contractual price, proportionate to the earliest operational date, taking into account the company’s waiver of the cost of available but unreceived notional power and the expenses incurred due to the shutdown of the power-generating barge in Umm Qasr without operation. The Council of Ministers also directed the General Company for Ports of Iraq to berth the barge at Khor Al-Zubair Port due to the readiness of the fuel pipeline and to provide greater flexibility for load distribution.
