Energy

Oil Ministry slashes upstream spending for 2026

Urgent austerity plan aims to cut $1.4 billion from oil field budgets nationwide in 2026 without affecting production — a warning sign of fiscal trouble for Iraq.

Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghani (center left) and Deputy Oil Minister for Upstream Bassim Mohammed Khdair (center right) meet with Zaid Elyaseri (far left), the president of BP Iraq, in Baghdad on Jan. 26, 2026, to discuss the company's upstream plans and project expenses. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

Mar 19, 2019

Q&A: Haider al-Abadi, former prime minister of Iraq

Five months after leaving office, Abadi reflects on Iraq's political landscape and his successor's handling of energy sector priorities.

Mar 4, 2019

Federal and KRG exports hold steady in February

A slight decline in crude loadings is offset by a $4 per barrel increase in price, as Iraq's output stays near record levels.

Mar 1, 2019

Q&A: Nazm Dabakh, KRG representative to Iran

After Kurdistan abruptly stopped oil exports to Iran - and then quickly resumed them - the KRG's emissary to Tehran discusses bilateral relations in the age of renewed U.S. sanctions.

Feb 26, 2019

Iran fuel exports restart after KRG relaxes ban

One week after the Kurdistan region stopped all crude and fuel traffic to Iran, the order has been revised and exports have resumed.

Feb 25, 2019

New Bashiqa drilling touches a political nerve

DNO has begun a drilling campaign in the heart of Iraq's disputed territories, after the Norwegian company took over as operator from ExxonMobil.

Feb 15, 2019

Kurdistan halts oil exports to Iran

Hundreds of trucks per day had been carrying crude and other oil products across the border, but the KRG has ordered the trade to stop.

Feb 14, 2019

Ghadhban reshuffles Oil Ministry leadership team

Four deputy ministers are swapping positions with one another, in Ghadhban's first major staff changes as minister.

Feb 13, 2019

Record production continues in January

In light of an OPEC quota agreement, Iraq has made steep cuts at state-run fields, but those reductions are being offset by long-planned increases at IOC-operated projects.

Feb 4, 2019

Iraq sustains near-record exports to start 2019

Federal oil sales declined slightly from a December high-water mark, but revenues rose due to an uptick in global prices.

Jan 31, 2019

Kirkuk oil smuggling rings thrive amidst corruption

Security forces have disrupted several operations stealing thousands of barrels of oil per day, but perpetrators with powerful connections defy justice and the smuggling continues.