dijlahpoint - Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi chaired the fifteenth regular session of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday evening (August 18, 2026), which resulted in a package of significant economic and service-oriented decisions. The resolutions included adopting new mechanisms for purchasing and exporting crude oil at specified discounts through specialized companies starting this September, while granting the Ministry of Oil the authority to develop new transport hubs and rehabilitate strategic facilities. In the electricity sector, plans to improve distribution and adopt standard request for proposal (RFP) documents were approved. The Council also ratified the implementation of electronic payments and the pre-collection of customs duties starting early October 2026. Furthermore, the session included the approval of financial allocations to support the Ministry of Health and develop border crossings, the extension of the Electoral Commission's occupancy of its current premises, and the enhancement of international cooperation with Nigeria and Zambia.