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)

Jan 31, 2017

Parliament jump-starts stalled oil corruption inquiry

Reconstituted investigative committee will focus on allegations that Australia's Leighton Offshore paid bribes to Iraqi officials, including former oil ministers.

Jan 19, 2017

Iraq exports fall as OPEC cuts begin

Export rates are down from their December peak, but questions remain over which fields are being reduced and whether the cuts will meet OPEC expectations.

Jan 10, 2017

Sonangol considering return to Iraq

Three years after security problems forced them out, Iraq is courting the Angolan state firm back to the Qayarah and Najmah fields.

Jan 6, 2017

Inside Mosul: Jan. 5, 2017

Detailed updates from Islamic State militant-held areas of Ninewa province, gathered via Iraq Oil Report's network of reporters and contacts.

Jan 6, 2017

After record year, Iraq readies OPEC cuts

Iraq exported more oil in 2016 than any previous year, but now it must reduce overall production in keeping with an OPEC quota aimed at raising oil prices.

Dec 22, 2016

Seeking financial rescue, KRG offered Turkey major oil assets

Emails published by Wikileaks reveal a proposal for Turkey to take equity stakes in Kurdistan's biggest oil fields, in exchange for nearly $5 billion of immediate financial assistance.

Dec 20, 2016

Hacked emails reveal details of Exxon’s Kurdistan activity

Disappointing exploration results drove Exxon to relinquish half of its Kurdistan portfolio, according to private correspondence with Turkey's energy leaders published by Wikileaks.

Dec 14, 2016

Record pipeline flows, but Kurdistan oil revenues dip

Saddled with debt to oil traders, Erbil remains unable to make payroll despite increased exports.

Dec 13, 2016

Q&A: Baz Karim, president of KAR Group

The most strategically important energy firm in Kurdistan, KAR manages the majority of the region's production and refining capacity, and its export pipeline.

Dec 13, 2016

Iraq Cabinet decisions: Dec. 13, 2016

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.