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Energy

Oil Ministry slashes upstream spending for 2026

Urgent austerity plan aims to cut $1.4 billion from oil field budgets nationwide in 2026 without affecting production — a warning sign of fiscal trouble for Iraq.
Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghani (center left) and Deputy Oil Minister for Upstream Bassim Mohammed Khdair (center right) meet with Zaid Elyaseri (far left), the president of BP Iraq, in Baghdad on Jan. 26, 2026, to discuss the company's upstream plans and project expenses. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

New leader for Midland Oil Company

Mohammed Yassin Hassan al-Obaidi has been appointed acting director general in a leadership reshuffle at Iraq's smallest state-run oil company.

ExxonMobil finalizes deal to exit West Qurna 1

The American super-major will sell its last remaining upstream asset in Iraq to the state-run Basra Oil Company, resolving a years-long conflict over the terms of its exit.

October exports hit 8-month high

The northern export pipeline was offline for a seventh straight month, but Iraq has now compensated for about half the lost volumes with increased oil sales via southern outlets.

Oil Ministry names new head of contracts

Bassim Taher Abid is tapped as the new acting director of the Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate as the ministry gears up for two new licensing rounds.