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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)

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.