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)

Nov 2, 2022

China positioned to thrive under Iraq’s new government

For the past year an ostensibly grassroots movement with ties to Iran-aligned parties has laid political groundwork for Iraq to embrace China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Oct 31, 2022

Q&A: Ali Qays Abdul-Jabbar, Director of the Iraqi Oil Tankers Company

Iraq’s State Oil Tankers Company hopes to rebuild its fleet to take on crude oil exports and match its Gulf peers.

Oct 27, 2022

UPDATE: Hayan Abdulghani confirmed to lead Oil Ministry as Sudani takes power

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani formed a government and took office as prime minister, providing initial details on his program for Iraq's energy sector.

Oct 26, 2022

Q&A: Hussein Abdul-Kadhim, Zubair field operations director

Oil production at Zubair is being ramped up towards a targeted 700,000 bpd within five years, but that goal will require more water injection than is currently available.

Oct 25, 2022

CORRECTED: Baghdad court annuls three more KRG contracts

Kurdistan's contracts with Addax, ShaMaran, and Gulf Keystone have been ruled invalid; cases against Dana Gas and Gazprom Neft are ongoing.

Oct 24, 2022

Q&A: Ali Yousif Zaboon, director of field operations at West Qurna 1

Production capacity at the West Qurna 1 oil field is set to increase to 600,000 bpd in 2023 despite operator ExxonMobil’s planned exit.

Oct 21, 2022

Akkas gas field to start production

The field awarded to Kogas to develop in 2010 but then shut down by security issues for nearly a decade has been connected to a nearby power plant by Iraqi state oil and gas workers.

Oct 18, 2022

Facing critical threats to oil independence, KRG leaders fail to unify

Violent political disputes bewteen Kurdistan's ruling parties are undermining their leverage in Baghdad at a pivotal time of government formation.

Oct 14, 2022

Iraqi production stays strong in September, but OPEC-plus cuts loom

Output stays above 4.7 million bpd for third straight month, but reductions are on the horizon as tighter OPEC quotas take effect in November.

Oct 8, 2022

September exports steady as northern oil sales rebound

Revenues fell with global oil prices, but higher export volumes through Ceyhan helped offset a pipeline leak that temporarily halted Basra Gulf tanker loadings.