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)

Jun 29, 2017

Iranian gas trickles into Iraq after multi-year delay

Power plants in Diyala and Baghdad are running tests on newly flowing Iranian gas, but security problems and payment terms remain unresolved.

Jun 28, 2017

Iraq production steady at 4.58 million bpd

An analysis of field-by-field data shows Iraqi production is significantly higher than official estimates used by OPEC.

Jun 22, 2017

Federal crude flows to two northern Iraq refineries

One refinery was fixed after IS was cleared out. The other is part of a political deal between Baghdad and Kurdistan.

Jun 14, 2017

Chicken farm explosion reveals oil smuggling racket

Investigators suspect members of the Badr Organization paramilitary group conducted a small but steady smuggling operation at a makeshift military base south of Kirkuk.

Jun 9, 2017

Rising insurgency hits Diyala, despite security efforts

In territory that was ostensibly liberated two years ago, security forces, civilians, and energy infrastructure have become regular targets of an intensifying IS guerrilla war.

Jun 2, 2017

UPDATE: Oil minister names new upstream deputy

Karim Hattab said he'll soon outline his exploration and production priorities as new deputy minister, following a seven-year stint in charge of the Oil Exploration Company.

Jun 2, 2017

Iraqi oil exports steady in May

Increased loadings from Basra Gulf help Iraq compensate for slight oil price slump and northern export decline.

May 26, 2017

Pearl takes arbitration victory against KRG to U.S. court

Kurdistan’s leading gas investor is looking to affirm $2 billion in awards against the KRG, potentially paving the way for enforcement action, while lining up $26.5 billion in further claims.

May 25, 2017

Readout: Oil Minister Luiebi briefs before crucial OPEC meeting

Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luiebi briefed journalists Thursday just before a key OPEC meeting, in which member countries are negotiating a potential extension of production cuts agreed to late last year. Luiebi covered a range of topics, from Iraq's specific oil policies to the OPEC-wide attempt to bolster oil prices. Here is a slightly condensed transcript of Luiebi's […]

May 24, 2017

Q&A: Falah Alamri, Director General of SOMO

Days before a major meeting among the world's largest oil producers, Iraq's export chief discusses depressed Kirkuk prices and a big plan for marketing Basra crude.