Energy

Nationwide refining capacity surges as Baiji ramps up

Iraq can now process over 1.5 million bpd of crude, as the country's largest refinery completes a decade-long comeback.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (center) visits the Baiji refinery in August 2023 to announce projects to rehabilitate and expand the facility. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

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.

Jan 30, 2019

Q&A: Ahmed Fadhil Adhayam, deputy director general of Basra Oil Company

BOC is taking major steps to build capacity, even as it limits production in an era of OPEC constraints.

Jan 24, 2019

Court presses Baghdad, KRG for details of oil disputes

Iraq’s highest court again delayed a ruling on a key lawsuit as it seeks information about past political efforts to cooperate.

Jan 23, 2019

Supreme Court rules against INOC law

Iraq's highest court sided with technocrats who challenged legislation to reconstitute the Iraqi National Oil Company, ruling that several key articles are unconstitutional.

Jan 17, 2019

December production hits all-time high, capping 2018 gains

Production capacity is now well over 5 million bpd, but future output could be constrained by infrastructure bottlenecks and OPEC obligations.