Energy

BP deal aims to revamp Kirkuk energy sector

Iraq is once again leveraging upstream development to finance gas and power projects.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (standing, center), BP CEO Murray Auchincloss (standing, left), and Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghan (standing, right) oversee the signing of a deal for BP to rehabilitate Kirkuk oil fields and build gas processing and power generation infrastructure at a ceremony in Baghdad on March 26, 2025. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

Jun 15, 2023

Q&A: Ammar al-Anbagi, director general of SOMO

Iraq's oil marketing chief discusses Russia-related oil market dynamics, the restart of Qayarah crude exports, and recent steps to activate the TotalEnergies mega-deal.

Jun 13, 2023

Parliament passes budget after gutting KRG revenue guarantees

New budget law appears to represent a rejection of the recent Baghdad-Erbil political deals that had sought to balance oil and financial authorities.

Jun 8, 2023

Protesting refinery workers block fuel supplies in southern Iraq

Upset about provisions in Iraq's draft budget law, refinery employees are shutting down tanker traffic and threatening a crippling fuel shortage.

Jun 8, 2023

Exports edge upward, but northern pipeline remains offline

Baghdad has compensated for lost exports via Turkey with increased southern oil sales, but KRG exports remain entirely offline.

Jun 6, 2023

Iraq’s electricity investment dilemma: who takes the risk?

Politicians are bristling at contractual terms that many investors demand to help protect them from the dysfunction of Iraq’s investment climate.

Jun 2, 2023

Cabinet approves oil export expansion funding

A subsea pipeline project could lift export capacity by 500,000 bpd in just over a year, but the funds can't be released until Iraq passes a new budget.

May 30, 2023

Q&A: Engineer Farhan Muhssin al-Fartousi, head of the General Company for Ports of Iraq

The director general of Iraq's state-run ports company discusses ongoing expansions and the resumption of Qayarah crude exports from Khor al-Zubair.

May 27, 2023

New budget law changes threaten Baghdad-Erbil oil deal

Last-minute additions to the budget bill could undermine a new framework for oil and financial cooperation needed to restart northern exports and support Kurdistan’s oil sector.

May 25, 2023

Budget loans give KRG financial lifeline

Baghdad has sent nearly $1 billion to Kurdistan since March, highlighting political cooperation that could grow into reliable financial flows with the passage of a new budget law.

May 23, 2023

Q&A: Bassim Abdul Karim, director general of Basra Oil Company

Southern Iraq's top oil leader discusses efforts to activate a deal with TotalEnergies, expand production capacity, and overcome export infrastructure bottlenecks.