Energy

Iraq begins oil leadership reshuffle, including major corruption arrest

As a new government takes power, high-level political shifts are starting to filter down through the leadership ranks of Iraq's oil sector.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (center) chairs a meeting on auditing government contracts with the head of the Integrity Commission and other senior federal officials in Baghdad on May 30, 2026. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

Oct 30, 2020

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

Iraq is expanding existing refineries, but greenfield projects in the south are not moving forward.

Oct 28, 2020

KRG plans to privatize power distribution, bill collection

Plan could earn KRG revenue and save electricity, but requires elusive public buy-in.

Oct 22, 2020

Oil Ministry orders 250,000 bpd October production hike

Surge in production comes as Iraq attempts to navigate the opposing pressures of a financial crisis and quota commitments to OPEC-plus.

Oct 15, 2020

Iraq’s September production drops 200,000 bpd toward OPEC+ compliance

Under pressure from the OPEC-plus coalition to compensate for past over-production, Iraq makes painful cuts mainly from IOC-operated fields.

Oct 14, 2020

Iraq outlines financial crisis response plan

Emergency measures include $35 billion in new borrowing, a total overhaul of the economy, and the potential devaluation of the Iraqi dinar.

Oct 14, 2020

Kirkuk power supply awaits repair of Ajeel pipeline

Repairs of gas pipeline explosion 10 days ago identified additional problems, causing delays to electricity feedstocks.

Oct 7, 2020

Rockets on Erbil were launched near Kurdistan oil operations

The Sept. 30 rocket attack near the Erbil airport highlights the reach of rogue militant groups and the risks they pose to the investment climate in both federal Iraq and Kurdistan.

Oct 2, 2020

Loadings from Turkey lead slight Iraqi export increase

Iraqi oil sales are still near six-year lows, and revenue has dipped along with global oil prices.

Sep 24, 2020

Iraq seeks to shift impact of OPEC cuts onto oil companies

Oil Ministry effort to scale down payment obligations could cause conflict with IOCs and discourage new energy investment.

Sep 20, 2020

Oil minister reshuffles Basra Oil Co. and other posts

New leadership for Iraq's largest state-run oil company, as well as the Iraqi Drilling Company and the Oil Ministry's Technical Directorate.