Energy

Iraq takes action on illicit oil schemes

U.S. designation of a key oil sector logistics provider highlights sanctions risks, prompting Iraqi measures to combat corruption in fuel trading.

Iraqi Navy vessels take part in operations to combat illicit oil sales in August 2025. (Photo credit: GCPI)

Jul 6, 2008

Iraqi oil … on both sides of the pond

Here's a thought experiment from The Wall Street Journal: Assume that Iraq's democratic government declared it was nationalizing its oil industry, a la Venezuela or Saudi Arabia, while excluding American companies from the country. How do you think U.S. politicians would react? With angry cries of "ingratitude" and "this is what Americans died for"? Of […]

Jul 3, 2008

Iraq oil deals raise questions

Bush administration officials knew that a Texas oil company with close ties to President Bush was planning to sign an oil deal with the regional Kurdistan government that ran counter to American policy and undercut Iraq’s central government, a Congressional committee has The conclusions were based on e-mail messages and other documents that the committee […]

Jul 1, 2008

Iraqi oil: Deal or no deal?

"The United States was not involved in any decisions to award contracts, to make determinations of what kinds of contracts would be offered, to provide advice over what kinds of contracts would be offered. These are technical experts that we have working in the Iraqi Oil Ministry, who are similar to the technical experts we […]

Jun 25, 2008

Iraq oil deals in the north have wildcatters optimistic

Plus: *Korea National Oil Corp. gets two new Iraq Kurd deals *and made third parties to two existing deals *Chinese and Turkish firms added to Baghdad deals named It could be the new age for wildcatters, or just the new age of Iraqi oil development, but the monthly gathering of operators in Iraq's Kurdistan region […]

Jun 23, 2008

Iraq oil deals in Baghdad talks as KRG signs with Talisman

Iraq's Kurdish government has signed two oil deals with Canada's Talisman Energy as meetings begin in Baghdad over controversial oil issues, Ben Lando reports for United Press International. Calgary-based Talisman now has a 40 percent interest in the project operated by WesternZagros, the subsidiary spun off from Marathon. The production sharing contracts the Kurdistan Regional […]

Jun 19, 2008

America’s ‘Angle of Light’ leaving Iraq

Plus: *Iraq’s next oil deals *Basra exports back *DNO production up *Tee times in Iraqi Kurdistan *Much more… Al Herman is no diplomat. His choice words are frank, sometimes unprintable, and usually effective. As America's top adviser to Iraq's Electricity Ministry for the past 28 months, he's butted heads professionally with Iraqi ministers and the […]

Jun 17, 2008

Kirkuk field production stymied by Baghdad-Erbil fight and unclear course for development

Plus: * More on the Iraq-Shell joint venture for south gas *Weather impedes oil exports *Tenders announced for drilling in Rumaila and Luhais *Much more… The Kirkuk oil field in northern Iraq could be producing 70,000 barrels more per day, but a dispute between Iraq's central and Kurdish regional governments has kept the needed equipment […]

Jun 12, 2008

Oil exports OK from some KRG deals, Iraq oil minister says

Plus: *Oil city Amarah awaits Basra incursion redux *Iraq agrees to Jordan cheaper oil extension *Oil for education *Birth defects rise in Fallujah babies * Kurdistan’s muckrakers The pipeline that could pump northern Iraqi oil for export is nearly complete but empty, ending for now in the soil near the borders with Syria and Turkey, […]

Jun 11, 2008

KRG holding oil deal signing bonus and sales until Iraq passes revenue sharing law

Iraq's Kurdish region has been collecting millions of dollars in signing bonuses for 19 oil deals inked with international oil companies but is waiting for a federal revenue-haring law before turning it over to Baghdad. The signing bonuses vary from between $1 million and $5 million "to sometimes more than that," Kurdistan Regional Government Minister […]

Jun 10, 2008

Much-hyped tenders for developing Iraq oil and gas fields out by June 30

Plus: *Lukoil still banking on W. Qurna 2 *Ministry of Industry and Minerals to build refineries *Ministry of Oil to buy tankers *Kurds pan U.N. proposal on some disputed territories *Iraqis trying to live in Amman *Alive in Baghdad: To be gay and Iraqi The Iraqi Oil Ministry this month will announce the first round […]