Energy

Depot fire temporarily cuts nearly half of Iraqi crude exports

An explosion at the Zubair-1 depot and pumping station has led to a shut-in of around 1.5 million barrels per day of Basra Medium for export, as Iraq looks for alternatives to keep flows up in the Basra Gulf.

Fire fighters and civil defense corps members extinguish the fire at the Zubair-1 pumping station following a gas leak explosion on Oct. 26, 2025.

Dec 11, 2009

Halfaya field goes to China

China leads the way, taking on three competitors and winning Halfaya in Missan province, which has occasionally seen Mahdi Army but has been relatively calm.

Dec 11, 2009

East Baghdad ends day alone

Its proximity to Sadr City made it a hard sell to foreign firms, none of whom made an offer for it.

Dec 11, 2009

No bidders for Eastern Fields

Will any company risk insurgents and the Arab vs. Kurd dispute to invest in four small but prospective fields? No.

Dec 10, 2009

Round 2 of the Iraq oil bidding battle begins

More than forty of the world’s largest oil companies brave increased security risks this weekend, for a piece of the world’s third largest oil reserves.

Dec 10, 2009

Iraq’s crude oil production capacity: the way ahead

Thamir Ghadhban, the top oil adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, charts the goals and assesses the problems for the country's oil sector.

Dec 9, 2009

Comment & Analysis: The economics of Iraq oil investment

Why the world’s largest oil companies have reversed their earlier position that the oil ministry’s terms for major development deals were not profitable enough.

Dec 3, 2009

KRG names electricity minister

Posting was delayed as parties reshuffle after the July election and some key ministerial posts change hands.

Dec 1, 2009

Oil Ministry HQ likely to host Dec. bidding round

Companies prefer Green Zone hotel, but conflicting bookings are forcing the ministry to go back to its original plan to host the oil auction at home.

Dec 1, 2009

South oil exports return from weather delay

Winds complicate oil exports from south, where basic speedbumps can quickly turn into roadblocks for the fragile but crucial infrastructure.

Dec 1, 2009

Checklist: the $11B spent on reconstruction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Gulf Region District highlights the projects from $11B in U.S. funding over nearly seven years in Iraq.