Energy

Southern export uptick unlocks production gains

A partial resumption in tanker traffic has enabled at least 250,000 bpd in increased oil output, but a full recovery still depends on wartime dynamics outside Iraq’s control.

Workers from Iraq's Oil Pipelines Company perform maintenance work on a gas pipeline feeding the Mansuriya power station in June 2026. (Photo credit: Oil Pipelines Company)

Jun 28, 2019

Q&A: Thamir Ghadhban, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy and Minister of Oil

As Iraq pursues energy independence, the country's oil chief is streamlining the bureaucracy, crafting new investment incentives, and preparing to award mega-projects.

Jun 26, 2019

Senior Oil Ministry officials suspended over fight

Internal disputes spilled into public view as Oil Minister Thamir Ghadhban took disciplinary action against one of his deputy ministers and his security chief.

Jun 26, 2019

Hawrami poised to keep KRG oil portfolio

The architect of Kurdistan’s oil autonomy, Ashti Hawrami appears likely to continue as minister during the government's leadership transition.

Jun 19, 2019

Rockets hit multiple Basra oil sites

Katyusha rocket attacks hit facilities housing international oil companies, including Exxon, which had recently ordered foreign staff to return to Basra.

Jun 17, 2019

Federal lawsuit targeting Kurdistan oil exports delayed again

Supreme Court gives the Iraqi PM seven weeks to sign updated pleading documents.

Jun 14, 2019

Iraq receives new U.S. waiver for Iran energy imports

Three days before the expiration of a prior waiver, the U.S. has decided to continue to refrain from punishing Iraq for essential gas and power imports.

Jun 14, 2019

Optimism swells over giant Eridu discovery

Lukoil has upgraded an assessment of its Block 10 exploration results – the latest success stemming from a 2012 contract auction that was initially seen as lackluster.

Jun 13, 2019

Q&A: Ihsan Ismaael, director general of Basra Oil Company

Iraq's largest state oil company is expanding production capacity and building new infrastructure as it waits out an OPEC quota.

Jun 11, 2019

Iraq hikes production in May

Despite an OPEC quota, output is rebounding at Basra fields and new capacity continues to come online.

Jun 5, 2019

Basra oil sites draw renewed protests

Small-scale demonstrations at three oil installations raise the specter of last summer's destabilizing protest movement.