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)

Nov 1, 2016

Q&A: Deputy Finance Minister Fadhil Nabee Othman

To get billions in international loans, Iraq needs to finesse a tricky financial challenge - cutting spending while also funding its military, government payroll, and oil investment.

Sep 15, 2016

Q&A: Senior Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh Nema

The second most senior Iraqi oil official talks about plans to keep up production during a financial squeeze, and the terms for delivering crude to a Kurdish refinery, Ceyhan and Iran.

Aug 22, 2016

Q&A: Oil Minister Jabbar Allibi

The newly confirmed minister is seeking a "quiet" environment for improving relationships with both international oil companies and the Kurdistan government.

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.

Jun 6, 2016

Q&A: Sheikh Sudad Sakhar Salman al-Luhebi

The commander of a Sunni tribal fighting force discusses the grinding campaign to drive IS out of villages between Makhmour and Mosul.

Jun 2, 2016

Q&A: Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh Nema

On the sidelines of an OPEC meeting, Nema talks about the steps Iraq is taking to overcome challenges and hit ambitious production targets.

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.