Damascus moves to centralize control over Syrian oil sector

Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria are losing their hold on the country’s largest oil fields as foreign investors look for opportunities.

A delegation from the Syria Petroleum Company visits oil facilities in northeast Syria in January 2026, shortly after they came under control of the Damascus government. (Photo credit: SPC)

Energy

Nationwide refining capacity surges as Baiji ramps up

Iraq can now process over 1.5 million bpd of crude, as the country's largest refinery completes a decade-long comeback.

Politics

Government formation stalemate deepens

Nouri al-Maliki's path to the premiership becomes increasingly unlikely as political power brokers struggle to contend with U.S. opposition and regional uncertainty.

Security

Iraqi oil shutdowns loom as U.S. attacks Iran

Some production is already offline and Iraqi oil officials are bracing for a total loss of southern exports.

Interviews

Q&A: Muntaser Kadhim Haloub, deputy director general of the South Refineries Company

Southern Iraq's refining sector is expanding, creating a better supply of high-quality fuels and rising demand for crude feedstock.