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)

Feb 13, 2014

Q&A: Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain al-Shahristani

Iraq's top energy official discusses ExxonMobil, the KRG budget proposal, the status of fighting in Anbar and more.

Feb 11, 2014

Q&A: Former Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie

Top Maliki confidante gives his candid take on Iraq's political landscape, oil disputes and security crisis as national elections loom.

Dec 19, 2013

Q&A: Basra Governor Majid al-Nasrawi

With a dispute over Basra's 2014 budget allocation looming, the governor of Iraq's oil capital is threatening to launch protests and even shut in oil exports.

Oct 24, 2013

Q&A: Abdul Karim Luaibi

Iraq's Oil Minister discusses 2014 exports, the Kurdish quota, postponing the fifth bidding round and more.

Oct 3, 2013

Q&A: Kirkuk energy committee chairman Ali al-Salhi

The chairman of the Kirkuk Provincial Council's energy committee discusses the backstory and opposition to the BP deal, and a potential agreement with CNPC.

Jun 25, 2013

Q&A: Ali Khudhier, chairman of Basra Gas Company

The leader of Iraq's efforts to capture and process natural gas in Basra, Ali Khudhier discusses the interlocking projects required to eliminate flaring.

May 29, 2013

Q&A: Ali Musawi, Adviser to the Prime Minister

A chief adviser to PM Maliki speaks about the civil war in Syria and worsening relations with Turkey, and blames the Iraqi Speaker of Parliament for domestic political gridlock.

Mar 22, 2013

Q&A: Alaa Mohie el-Deen

The leader of Iraq's push for oil sector transparency discusses Iraq's latest EITI report, as well as the challenges of integrating Kurdistan into the process.

Dec 26, 2012

Q&A: Gen. James Jones

The former national security adviser to President Obama calls for a U.S. policy shift that would embrace Iraqi Kurdistan's oil deals.

Dec 18, 2012

Q&A: Hussain al-Shahristani

Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister for Energy discusses KRG exports, ExxonMobil's looming deadline, and a new production target to reach by 2017.