Energy

Pipeline delays cap Iraq’s northern exports

The Iraqi side of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline is still months away from coming online — a consequence of years of dysfunction that deprived Iraq of strategic export flexibility.

Workers from the State Company for Oil Projects rehabilitate the Iraqi side of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline in February 2026. (Photo credit: SCOP)

Oct 12, 2023

Turkey gives official notice that pipeline can resume

Political obstacles within Iraq are still preventing crude exports from restarting after a formal letter from BOTAS to SOMO confirmed the pipeline is ready.

Oct 5, 2023

Iraq oil exports steady in September

Crude sales averaged above 3.4 million for the third straight month as Iraq maxes out southern export outlets.

Oct 4, 2023

Obstacles remain after Turkey signals pipeline is ready

Northern exports can only come online if Baghdad strikes new political and commercial agreements.

Sep 30, 2023

Iraq presses claim to enforce arbitration award against Turkey

In a U.S. legal filing, Iraq contested Turkey's effort to flip the award in its own favor, as the two sides still appear deadlocked over a restart of Iraq’s northern exports.

Sep 27, 2023

Loans begin to flow, but KRG faces uphill battle for financial security

Baghdad has begun implementing a three-month deal to enable payments for Kurdistan's civil servants, prompting political backlash.

Sep 23, 2023

Technical talks signal potential progress on Iraq-Turkey Pipeline

Recent meetings show renewed efforts to set terms for reopening the export pipeline, but top-level political approval is hardly assured.

Sep 21, 2023

Q&A: Jumaha Sheyah al-Maliki, Director of Water Resources in Basra

Iraq's natural waterways have little spare supply for oil fields that need more water injection to sustain reservoir pressure and hit higher production targets.

Sep 20, 2023

August production surges as KRG fields partially revive

Fields in Kurdistan are raising production and selling into the local market, as output increases despite the ongoing northern pipeline closure.

Sep 19, 2023

Baghdad approves 3-month stop-gap funding for KRG

Three monthly loans of $538 million promise temporary relief to pay civil servant salaries, but unresolved questions loom for Kurdistan's oil industry.

Sep 15, 2023

Oil veterans bring energy expertise to Prime Minister’s Office

Fayadh Nema and Falah Alamri have deep relationships in the Oil Ministry and decades of experience with hot-button energy issues.