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)

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.

May 19, 2023

Iraq announces new oil and gas licensing round

Oil Ministry launches new effort to attract investment in 13 oil and gas fields and exploration blocks.

May 17, 2023

Iraqi production drops sharply as pipeline outage shuts KRG fields

Iraq is developing new production capacity, but output is currently falling because of infrastructure bottlenecks in the south and the prolonged Turkey pipeline shutdown.

May 16, 2023

Northern exports still off as Turkey cites “technical issues”

Iraq is ready to restart pipeline exports and relieve financial pressure on the KRG, but Turkey’s delays are prompting speculation of political complications.

May 13, 2023

Ali Qayas Abdul-Jabber, director general of the Iraqi Oil Tankers Company, at his office in May 2023. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)

Q&A: Ali Qayas Abdul-Jabber, director general of the Iraqi Oil Tankers Company

Iraq’s state-run tanker company is expanding its fleet and preparing to start handling some of the country’s crude exports.

May 11, 2023

Iraq instructs Turkey to restart northern exports

Formal orders from SOMO highlight progress in Baghdad-Erbil negotiations to implement a new framework for Kurdistan’s oil and revenue. All eyes are now on Turkey.

May 9, 2023

Iraq restarts Qayarah oil field

China’s UNIPEC has bought the first 1 million barrels of heavy crude to be exported from Basra's Khor al-Zubair port.

May 5, 2023

April exports decline as pipeline shutdown continues

Federal Iraqi exports increased slightly, but nationwide exports dropped steeply due to the total shutdown of the northern pipeline system and KRG oil sales.

May 4, 2023

Iraq and TotalEnergies in final stretch of talks to launch GGIP

The two sides are finalizing technical details and sub-agreements to activate a potentially transformational $27 billion energy project.

Apr 24, 2023

Iraqi oil output declining from recent highs

Production began to drop in February and March, even before a prolonged northern export outage and impending OPEC-plus cuts.