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)

Mar 6, 2022

Iraq rebounds from temporary oil field outages

The West Qurna 2 field is scheduled to return from maintenance sooner than expected, and the Nassiriya field is back online a week after protest-related disruptions.

Mar 2, 2022

Iraq’s February oil exports rise

Monthly revenues hit another 10-year high as exports rebounded from a January dip and global oil prices spiked.

Mar 2, 2022

TotalEnergies mega-deal with Iraq hits snag over state participation

Iraq wants to take a 40 percent stake in the $27 billion deal, but finalizing terms could prove difficult before a new government takes shape.

Mar 1, 2022

Q&A: Ali Shaddad al-Faris, MP from Basra

One of the plaintiffs in the landmark Federal Supreme Court case against Kurdistan's independent oil sector discusses fallout from the ruling as well as Parliament's role in energy sector oversight.

Feb 26, 2022

Protests shut down Nassiriya field

The 60k bpd field is the second in two days to stop production amid global supply concerns as Russian war in Ukraine continues.

Feb 24, 2022

West Qurna 2 offline for maintenance until mid-March

The 400,000 bpd field is entirely shut down for scheduled upgrade work, likely causing a short-term dip in Iraqi output at a sensitive time for oil markets.

Feb 23, 2022

Dhi Qar unrest raises oil sector risks

Protesters are threatening to shut down the Nassiriya field, and deadly violence has caused one American company to suspend oil operations in the province.

Feb 20, 2022

Q&A: Hossam Hussein Walli, director general of the South Refineries Company

An expansion of Iraq's largest refinery is re-starting after a two-year delay, but other projects are in limbo because high crude prices are squeezing margins for the state-run company.

Feb 17, 2022

Iraq’s January oil output down by 160,000 bpd

Bad weather at southern export terminals disrupted tanker loadings and forced shut-ins at oil fields, but spare capacity is ready to come online as OPEC quotas rise.

Feb 15, 2022

UPDATE: Iraqi Supreme Court strikes down KRG oil sector independence

Landmark ruling rejects the legal pillars of Kurdistan's oil sector, opening a volatile new chapter in Iraq's long-standing disputes over oil powers.