Energy

Summer crisis looms as wartime disruptions hit Iraq’s power sector

Iraq's electricity grid has survived a drop in domestic gas feedstock by employing backup measures that are unlikely to meet the challenges of summertime demand spikes.

Workers from Iraq's State Company for Oil Projects install a pipeline to help transport gas from the Nahr Bin Omar field to the Basra Gas Company's NGL processing plant at North Rumaila in April 2026. (Photo credit: SCOP)

Sep 26, 2017

As Kurdistan casts independence vote, threats loom

The KRG oil sector is in the crosshairs of Iraq's Parliament and Turkey's president, who are seeking to stop the momentum of Kurdish secession after Monday's referendum.

Sep 25, 2017

Showdown turns to oil as referendum dispute intensifies

The day before Monday's Kurdistan independence referendum, Iraq's National Security Council called on the world to respect claims to federal control over oil and borders.

Sep 19, 2017

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.

Sep 14, 2017

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.

Sep 12, 2017

Hawija offensive hamstrung by Baghdad-Erbil mistrust

Long-standing disputes over Kirkuk and its oil threaten to turn allies against each other as they prepare to chase IS from one of its last strongholds in Iraq.

Sep 11, 2017

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.

Sep 8, 2017

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.

Sep 7, 2017

New chiefs for Basra Oil and South Gas companies

Iraq's oil minister swapped the leaders at two of Iraq's most important state-run energy companies.

Sep 5, 2017

Oil revenues up, but August exports dip

Iraq is averaging higher-than-expected oil prices so far this year, but is struggling to maintain export volumes as a result of OPEC cuts and disputes with Kurdistan.

Aug 31, 2017

KRG deal settles debts, gives more acreage to Pearl

By settling with Dana Gas and partners, the Kurdistan region avoids tens of billions of dollars of potential liability and commissions massive new gas production within two years.