Energy

Iraq begins nationwide production shutdowns

With exports halted by war, Iraq has limited options to keep fields operating and has begun taking millions of barrels of daily production offline.

Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghani (center) meets with his deputies to plan for production cuts in anticipation of a shutdown in southern oil exports on March 2, 2026. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

Jul 2, 2021

Iraqi tax commission cracks down on international energy companies

A new enforcement action seeks to stop 20 companies from bringing personnel or equipment into Iraq, threatening major disruptions at key projects.

Jul 1, 2021

Q&A: Hamza Abdul-Baqi Nassir, director general of the South Gas Company

Iraq is continuing to negotiate with Total over the Ratawi gas hub as export cuts from Iran and nationwide electricity failures highlight the need for new domestic energy supply.

Jun 29, 2021

Electricity crisis worsens as Iran cuts supply and minister resigns

Power blackouts throughout Iraq threaten to cause new bouts of social unrest over chronic failures to build adequate domestic gas and electricity supply.

Jun 18, 2021

Hope rises for Baghdad-Erbil budget deal, but hurdles remain

Under a new agreement, Kurdistan could start receiving 200 billion Iraqi dinars per month.

Jun 16, 2021

May oil production holds steady near 4m bpd

Iraq's Oil Ministry is sitting on roughly 1 million bpd of capacity — and developing more — as OPEC quotas begin to ease.

Jun 15, 2021

Q&A: Habat al-Halbusi, chair of the Parliament Oil and Energy Committee

The MP leading Parliament's oversight of Iraq's oil and electricity sectors discusses the importance of gas development and the status of INOC legislation.

Jun 8, 2021

Analysis: ExxonMobil’s share in the West Qurna 1 oil field

Abdul Mahdy al-Ameedi, former head of contracts for the Oil Ministry, weighs in on the details of the contract for the West Qurna 1 oil field, as ExxonMobil looks to exit the project.

Jun 4, 2021

Qayarah field resumes production

After more than a year offline, the Ninewa province heavy oil field is producing about 10,000 bpd, with output trucked to Kirkuk.

Jun 4, 2021

Cabinet files legal challenge to 2021 budget

Kadhimi's government is seeking to strike down budget provisions added by Parliament, including new financial rules for state-owned oil companies and fuel import taxes.

Jun 3, 2021

Syria oil deal hangs in the balance as U.S. license lapses

Delta Crescent Energy's oil deal with the Kurdish-led opposition in northeast Syria is in jeopardy as the Biden administration reconsiders a Trump-era sanctions waiver.