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)

Jan 6, 2016

Ibrahim Khalil crossing to Turkey reopens

Commercial traffic to and from Iraq’s main border crossing with Turkey has restarted, after nearly a month of disruptions affected fuel and power supplies in Kurdistan.

Jan 5, 2016

Record oil exports, but half the money

Iraq ended 2015 with its best two-month stretch of export volumes ever, but revenue is dropping along with the price of oil.

Dec 28, 2015

Armed with intel, U.S. strikes curtail IS oil sector

It once made over $1 million per day in Iraq alone, but now the IS oil sector, which lured hundreds of foreign workers, is struggling to meet its internal demand.

Dec 16, 2015

Q&A: South Gas Company chief Ali Khudair

The head of Iraq’s anti-flaring efforts discusses progress – and delays – on the long road to capitalizing on the country's natural gas wealth.

Dec 9, 2015

Oil Ministry restructures SOC leadership

Four new deputy DGs will manage Iraq's southern oil sector – part of an apparent effort to quicken decision-making and address political pressures in Basra.

Dec 9, 2015

Q&A: Oil Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi – Part 2

Iraq's oil minister discusses budget negotiations and the dispute with the KRG over oil fields, exports and revenues.

Dec 8, 2015

Q&A: Oil Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi – Part 1

Iraq's oil minister discusses increasing production despite a fiscal squeeze, measures to keep IOCs whole, the Basra Gas Company and Zubair projects, and more.

Dec 4, 2015

Q&A: SOMO’s Falah Alamri

The head of Iraq's oil marketing authority touts the market's embrace of the new Basra Heavy crude blend, which will account for most of the country's upcoming export growth.

Dec 2, 2015

Iraq shatters export records

In combination, Iraq's federal government and Kurdistan region exported about 4 million bpd last month, but both governments still face crippling cash shortages.

Nov 26, 2015

Iraq budget moves toward passage

Despite some spending cuts, MPs across the political spectrum criticize the budget for its unrealistic expectations, but also expect it to pass.