Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi Chairs the 13th Regular Session of the Council of Ministers ••••• Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired, today, Thursday, the 13th regular session of the Council of Ministers, during which developments in the country were discussed, the items on the agenda were reviewed, and the necessary directives and decisions were issued. As part of administrative reform and strengthening oversight, the Council of Ministers approved the repeal of Diwani Order No. (54 of 2026), thereby terminating the committee established under it and transferring responsibility for the prior audit of government contracts to the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, as the competent authority. The Board shall conduct prior audits through its oversight bodies operating in ministries, entities not affiliated with a ministry, and governorates, in accordance with procedures that ensure a unified reference authority and the timely completion of audits. The Council also approved the adoption of the Guide for the Prior Audit of Government Contracts and early coordination between contracting entities and oversight bodies beginning with the preparation of contract documents and throughout the contracting process, in order to address observations before the completion of contract award procedures. The Federal Board of Supreme Audit shall classify contracts according to their nature, value, urgency, and level of risk, and establish binding timeframes for completing the prior audit of each category. It was further decided that the prior audit of strategic and urgent contracts, as well as contracts exceeding IQD 1 billion, shall be completed within no more than 10 working days. The Board shall continue exercising its authority to conduct subsequent audits in accordance with the applicable legislation, while the oversight bodies of the relevant entities shall complete the audit of contracts currently under review by the Diwani Order Committee from the stage they have reached, in order to avoid delaying government contracts and projects. In the same context, the Council approved the Eighth Annual Report of the Council for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing for 2025, while emphasizing the continued efforts of the Office to take the necessary measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in coordination with the relevant oversight authorities. In the electricity generation sector, the Council of Ministers approved the recommendation to announce the operation and maintenance contracts for the Rumaila and Shatt Al-Arab simple-cycle power stations through an open public tender for all eligible companies, in order to ensure neutrality, transparency, and fair competition. The Council also approved the recommendation to amend Council of Ministers Resolutions No. (264 of 2026) and No. (278 of 2026) by adding a provision requiring the Ministry of Oil to supply the fuel quantities needed under the electricity supply contract for the northern region, effective from the contract commencement date of May 26, 2026. The Council further approved exempting the Ministry of Electricity’s projects contracted pursuant to Council of Ministers Resolution No. (286 of 2026) from the Prime Minister’s directive, provided that the Ministry adheres to its estimated and benchmark costs. This exemption shall remain in effect from the date of issuance of the above-mentioned resolution until September 15, 2026. The Council of Ministers also approved exempting the price of heavy fuel oil produced at the Karbala Refinery from the price set under Council of Ministers Resolution No. (68 of 2026), and maintaining the previous price of IQD 150 per liter for a period of two months, from July 1 through August 31, 2026, at a rate of 7,750 cubic meters per day, in addition to supplying 6,000 cubic meters of diesel fuel per day.