Oil sales have jumped by 1 million bpd in the past five years, though future growth prospects are clouded by geopolitical uncertainty.
Production and exports so far unaffected as some foreign oil workers evacuate, following the U.S. assassination of Qassim Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis.
As Iraq throttles back production to meet OPEC quota, higher global oil prices help offset reduced exports.
Order reflects new labor law mandating retirement age of 60 except for ministers.
A project to double the Nassiriya field's production capacity is tied to a federal budget likely strangled by political fighting.
The Nassiriya oil field and Dhi Qar refinery are operating again after the Oil Ministry took them offline temporarily to de-escalate protests.
Oil Ministry takes an 82,000 bpd field offline as de-escalation tactic in response to protests; overall production and exports unlikely to be affected nationwide.
The killing of an oil facilities policeman at a Khabbaz well comes as insurgent attacks are on the upswing.
State-operated fields in Basra throttle back production as Iraq moves to support an OPEC agreement and bolster global oil prices.
A long-time central player in Kurdistan's oil industry, the CEO of KAR Group has already become a trusted advisor of KRG Prime Minister Masrur Barzani.
