Energy

Iran reversal on Strait of Hormuz threatens Iraq’s nascent export restart

Iranian forces blocked a tanker carrying Iraqi crude, dampening hopes for a durable resumption of Iraq's southern exports.

The Agios Fanourios I tanker prepares to dock at a single point mooring buoy in the Basra Gulf in April 2026 for the first loading of crude from Iraq's southern export outlets in more than a month. (Photo credit: Ministry of Transportation)

Apr 27, 2022

Iraq taps Dhi Qar oil fields for capacity expansion

Production is rising at the Gharraf field, while the Subba field prepares to come back online and the Nassiriya field starts a new drilling program.

Apr 26, 2022

Q&A: Abdulbaqi K. Ali, Oil Ministry consultant for Energy Affairs

The Oil Ministry's point person for renewable energy discusses new solar projects, gas flaring reduction, and Iraq's Paris Agreement climate goals.

Apr 25, 2022

Q&A: Alaa al-Yassiri, director general of SOMO

The head of Iraq’s state oil marketer discusses expanding and diversifying export routes and the potential for increasing Iraqi crude supply.

Apr 22, 2022

Western sanctions raise hurdles for Russia in Iraq

Russian companies face challenges with payments and reluctance from commercial partners in Iraq following the invasion of Ukraine.

Apr 20, 2022

Q&A: Haidar Fakher Nasser, director of Khor al-Zubair port

The head of Iraq's main hub for fuel imports and exports discusses the capacity of the port and ongoing projects to rehabilitate and expand the facility.

Apr 18, 2022

Iraq’s March crude output edges higher

Iraqi production is rising as two southern fields return from temporary outages and OPEC-plus quotas continue to loosen.

Apr 18, 2022

Q&A: Ibrahim Abdul-Zahra, deputy director of the South Refineries Company

Iraq’s refineries cannot meet domestic demand for fuel and the poor quality of crude feedstock is compounding the problem.

Apr 15, 2022

Fuel smuggling causes shortages and spiking prices

Smugglers are exploiting a growing margin between government-subsidized fuel and market prices in an illicit trade that is squeezing Iraq's fuel supply and costing the government billions.

Apr 14, 2022

Q&A: Ali Jassim Hammoud, Director General of the Missan Oil Company

The second largest state oil firm is targeting an increase in oil production to 1 million bpd through expansion of existing facilities and developing new fields in Missan province.

Apr 12, 2022

Attack hits near Kurdistan’s export pipeline

An explosion Sunday night in the vicinity of a pumping station highlights potential vulnerabilities of key energy infrastructure.