Energy

January oil production inches higher despite Rumaila dip

Nationwide crude production increased by just over 50,000 bpd as state-operated Basra fields ramped up to compensate for a temporary decline at Rumaila.

Deputy Oil Minister Bassim Mohammed Khudair (center) and Basra Oil Company Director General Bassim Abdul Karim (right) tour part of the Ratawi project led by TotalEnergies in February 2026. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

Mar 19, 2024

Q&A: Capt. Alaa Khalaf Hassan, director of Khor al-Zubair port

A key transit point for fuel exports and imports, as well as sales of crude from the Qayarah field, the Khor al-Zubair port is expanding.

Mar 8, 2024

Iraq poised to start power imports from Jordan

New cross-border lines promise to help underserved Anbar province as Iraq aims to diversify its electricity supply.

Mar 7, 2024

Security incident at Ratawi over land claims

Gunmen made threats against a mine clearance subcontractor over land compensation claims that some security officials described as attempted extortion.

Mar 4, 2024

February oil exports rebound

After a lower OPEC-plus quota appeared to dampen Iraqi exports in January, oil sales bounced back in February.

Feb 16, 2024

Iraq revives Nassiriya Integrated Project with Gazprom talks

Cabinet approves direct negotiations for a combined upstream and refinery deal that the Oil Ministry has tried to advance for over a decade.

Feb 2, 2024

Q&A: Montaser Kadhim Haloub, director of the Southern Oil Projects Commission

Iraq's state-run Oil Projects Company has helped drive recent progress at Rumaila and the Shuaiba refinery, but key export expansion projects are still far from completion.

Jan 31, 2024

Iraq delivers steady oil production in 2023 despite turbulence

Oil Ministry aims for capacity increases in 2024 despite tighter OPEC-plus quota and infrastructure bottlenecks.

Jan 27, 2024

Drone strike hits Khor Mor, causing temporary power cuts

Thursday's attack on the gas field — the seventh in two years — caused a fire and forced a shutdown in gas production critical for power supplies in both Kurdistan and federal Iraq.

Jan 24, 2024

Q&A: Hossam Hussein Wali, director general of the South Refineries Company

Iraq's largest refinery has expanded its capacity by 70,000 bpd after long delays related to an unresolved dispute with a contractor.

Jan 16, 2024

Progress on Kurdistan budget deal, but obstacles remain

Baghdad approves temporary funding deal but unresolved oil issues hang over a potential budget law amendment to unlock more reliable financial transfers.