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)

Aug 24, 2016

Bai Hassan field recovering slowly from IS attacks

The Bai Hassan south station is back online, but key infrastructure remains damaged and a well fire is still blazing after two IS attacks in July and early August.

Aug 18, 2016

UPDATE: Baghdad resumes exports into KRG pipeline

About 70,000 bpd is now flowing from NOC-controlled fields into the KRG export pipeline, after oil disputes caused a five-month shutoff.

Aug 18, 2016

Worker strike briefly disrupts Taq Taq field

Workers protested against proposed cuts to staff and salaries with a two-day walkout, temporarily reducing crude supply to a local refinery.

Aug 12, 2016

Q&A: Deputy Oil Minister Hamid Younis Salih

The deputy minister for gas affairs discusses Iraq's rising LPG and condensates exports, as well as the future of major projects currently stalled by security problems.

Aug 11, 2016

Kurdistan hamstrung by pipeline outages, oil field attacks

The cash-strapped KRG has lost millions due to export pipeline malfunctions and attacks on a key oil field.

Aug 10, 2016

Bomb attack hits Bai Hassan oil field

Far behind Kurdistan's front lines, a suspected IS sleeper cell bombed a wellhead and set IEDs along a pipeline, exploiting security gaps around Kirkuk energy infrastructure.

Aug 9, 2016

UPDATE: Power cuts in Basra over unpaid bills

Turkish company shuts down floating power stations in a second attempt to recoup $85 million in debts.

Aug 5, 2016

KRG revenue plummets in July, IOCs await payment

Lower prices and a huge cut in advances from oil traders cause monthly oil proceeds to fall by $90 million, while most oil companies remain unpaid for July production.

Aug 1, 2016

UPDATE: Exports up but revenues drop in July

After a two-month decline, federal oil export levels rebounded, but overall revenues fell along with global oil prices.

Jul 28, 2016

Iraq pursues Basra refinery upgrade

Project would improve the quality and quantity of output from Shuaiba refinery, reducing the financial strain of fuel imports.