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)

May 24, 2011

Q&A: Exxon’s Iraq chief James Adams

With the West Qurna 1 oil field ahead of schedule, the head of ExxonMobil’s Iraq operation discusses the status of the project and the challenges ahead.

Apr 21, 2011

Q&A: Joost Hiltermann

The International Crisis Group's Iraq expert talks about the future of U.S. troops, the gap in security in northern Iraq, and what responsibility is on the shoulders of the country's politicians.

Apr 12, 2011

Q&A: Adnan Janabi

An oil industry expert now chairs the Parliament's Oil and Energy Committee. Adnan Janabi talks about short-term priorities for key oil laws and relations between Baghdad and the KRG.

Sep 24, 2009

Q&A: Security Snapshot

Michael Knights of security firm Olive Groups explains the security trends in Iraq, with an eye on the energy sector.