The Department of Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, discussed the PhD dissertation submitted by researcher Ghassan Ali Ahmed, entitled “Investment Contract Management for Waste-to-Energy Projects in Iraq,” as part of the Construction Project Management specialization, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mirvat Razzaq Al-Taie.
The dissertation aimed to develop a practical contractual framework to support the management of investment projects for converting waste into energy in Iraq. This was achieved by examining the current contractual practices and identifying the key challenges facing the implementation of such projects, while taking into consideration relevant Iraqi legislation and international best practices.
The study included a field survey and statistical analysis of the opinions of specialists from both the public and private sectors. It also involved developing a proposed contractual guide to regulate contractual requirements and responsibilities throughout the various project phases, in addition to preparing a checklist to assess the contractual readiness of investment projects before they are put out for implementation.
Furthermore, the dissertation examined the application of the proposed checklist to the waste-to-energy project in the Nahrawan area of Baghdad, based on the available project data and information, in order to assess the applicability of the research findings within the Iraqi investment environment.
The dissertation reached several conclusions and recommendations, most notably the importance of adopting a specialized contractual framework that clearly defines the responsibilities of the parties involved and establishes mechanisms for risk allocation, financial obligations, performance indicators, and dispute resolution. Such a framework would contribute to improving contract management efficiency and supporting the implementation of waste-to-energy projects in Iraq.
