Iraq finished 2019 with its lowest monthly production average of the year due to OPEC cuts and a brief output drop at its most prolific field.
A tribal dispute over contracts burst into violence, with field employees caught in the crossfire.
Ameedi's replacement by Maarij is one of many changes as a new retirement mandates kick in and Ghadhban continues staffing reshuffle.
Billions of oil dollars and access to Iranian power and gas are at risk if Trump rejects a sanctions waiver renewal next month – or worse, if Iraq is sanctioned itself, as he has threatened.
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.
