Interviews

Q&A: Bassim Mohammed Khudair, Deputy Oil Minister for Upstream

Iraq's top upstream oil official confirms that production, curtailed by war, is ready to surge back online — but only once ships can reliably resume Basra Gulf export loadings.

Deputy Oil Minister Bassim Mohammed Khudair (center) and Basra Oil Company Director General Bassim Abdul Karim (right) tour part of the Ratawi project led by TotalEnergies in February 2026. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

Oct 21, 2025

Pre-election Q&A series: Shwan Mohammed Kalari, rapporteur of the KDP in the Iraqi Parliament

Ahead of a consequential election for Iraq’s energy sector, key political figures give their outlook on the upcoming vote and subsequent government-formation process.

Oct 21, 2025

Pre-election Q&A series: Adnan al-Jabiri, deputy head of the Parliament Oil and Gas Committee

Ahead of a consequential election for Iraq’s energy sector, key political figures give their outlook for the vote and the government-formation process.

Oct 3, 2025

Q&A: Bassim Mohammed Khudair, deputy oil minister for upstream

The deputy minister provides details on the new agreements to unlock northern exports, and an update on talks with ExxonMobil.

Jul 14, 2025

Q&A: Ali Shaddad al-Faris, MP and spokesperson for the Parliament Oil and Gas Committee

Longtime energy MP talks about U.S. pressure on Baghdad and Erbil, the blame he places on KRG oil tactics, and the upside of the sitting oil minister entering elections.

May 21, 2025

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.

May 9, 2025

Q&A: Hassan Mohammed Hassan, director general of the Iraqi Drilling Company

The new leader of Iraq’s state-run well drilling firm discusses plans to expand its rig fleet and increase revenues.

Apr 15, 2025

Q&A: Adnan al-Jaberi, deputy chairman of the Parliament Oil and Gas Committee

The Basra MP talks about the prospects for and obstacles to energy sector development in southern Iraq, Kirkuk, and Kurdistan.

Mar 27, 2025

Q&A: Ahmad Salman, deputy president of Syria’s Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party

A veteran of Syria's oil sector — and a political leader in the oil-rich northeast — discusses negotiations with Damascus over the future of the country.

Mar 24, 2025

Q&A: Montaser Kadhim Haloub, director of SCOP’s Southern Projects Authority

The State Company for Oil Projects is racing to build a pipeline to transport regassified LNG that will be imported via the Khor al-Zubair port.

Mar 20, 2025

Q&A: Ali Shaddad al-Faris, MP and spokesperson for the Parliament Oil and Gas Committee

An inside view on multiple laws governing oil sector management and new refineries, and political dynamics related to Baghdad-KRG oil and budget issues.