Interviews

Q&A: Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq

Iraq is expanding its port capacity, including a fast-track project to import liquefied natural gas in time for this summer's peak electricity demand season.

Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, at the company's headquarters at Al-Maqal port in May 2025. (Photo credit: GCPI)

Jun 1, 2016

Kurdistan launches mining sector

KRG’s Ministry of Natural Resources calls for expressions of interest in seven prospective mineral exploration licenses.

May 24, 2016

Q&A: Mohammed Sahib al-Daraji, Minister of Industry and Minerals

Using public-private partnerships - such as new petrochemicals projects with IOCs - Daraji hopes to ease the government out of industries where state-owned companies are losing money.

Apr 26, 2016

Q&A: Senior Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh Nema

After taking over day-to-day leadership of the Oil Ministry in the wake of an ongoing political crisis, Fayadh Nema discusses the path ahead for Iraq's oil sector.

Apr 22, 2016

Q&A: Iraqi Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool

Iraq’s spokesman for the Joint Military Command taking on IS discusses the grueling siege of Fallujah, and the progress of operations in Anbar province.

Mar 8, 2016

Q&A: Ali al-Allaq, governor of the Central Bank of Iraq

The chief of Iraq’s lynchpin financial institution details the measures being used to prop up Iraq’s budget with its currency reserves.

Feb 3, 2016

Q&A: Kirkuk Gov. Najmaldin Karim

The province where Iraq's oil industry was born is starting to get paid for oil by the Kurdistan region. Kirkuk's governor explains the new "petrodollar" deal.

Jan 13, 2016

Q&A: Lukman Faily, Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S.

Iraq's envoy to Washington discusses the scope of destruction wrought by IS militants, the resources needed to respond, and what comes next in the war.

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

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.