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Energy

Iraq seeks backup options for West Qurna 2

As a sanctions deadline looms, Basra Oil Company is poised to manage the 480,000 bpd field while Lukoil continues negotiating to sell its stake.
A ceremony at the West Qurna 2 oil field in Basra to mark the opening of two new well complexes on June 1, 2023. (JASSIM AL-JABIRI/Iraq Oil Report)

Iraqi production continues to rise

Steady month-on-month increases are due to new drilling at the Halfaya field and recovering output from state-run fields.

Qayarah and Haditha refineries re-open

The Oil Ministry is re-starting the Qayarah refinery, which had temporarily shut due to smuggling concerns, as well as Anbar province's Haditha refinery.

Kurdistan gets Russian vote of confidence

Besieged by international pressure to delay its independence referendum, the KRG gets geopolitical backup from a Rosneft agreement to underwrite oil and gas export pipelines.

Shell accelerates Iraq drawdown with Majnoon exit

Negotiations begin over handing back the Majnoon operatorship, months after stake in West Qurna 1 was put up for sale, highlighting one major oil company's resistance to Iraq's tough terms.

Alamri out as head of Iraq’s oil sales

The latest shakeup of Oil Ministry leadership sees longtime SOMO chief replaced with senior ministry official currently focused on financial matters.

DNO takes Exxon operatorship

The Norwegian oil company will get half of ExxonMobil's stake in the Bashiqa block, one of three contracts it still holds with Iraqi Kurdistan, in the latest confidence-building move that could help the sector regain its momentum.