Interviews

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.

Deputy Oil Minister Bassim Mohammed Khudair distributes gifts to orphans from the Rawad al-Khair Orphanage at an Oil Ministry ceremony to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad on Sept. 9, 2025. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry media office)

Mar 24, 2023

Q&A: Hamza Abdul-Baqi, director general of South Gas Company

The head of southern Iraq's gas sector discusses the expansion of BGC, associated gas processing at Nahr Bin Omar, and the Ratawi gas hub.

Feb 16, 2023

Q&A: Jawad Bolani, member of the Parliament Security and Defense Committee

Iraq's former interior minister discusses the structure of the country's military and top security issues facing the new government.

Feb 14, 2023

Q&A: Habib Abdul-Ameer Aoda, Deputy Manager of the FCC Project at Shuaiba Refinery

A long-delayed upgrade of Iraq's largest refinery is now moving forward, promising to boost high-octane fuel production and reduce dependence on imports.

Jan 9, 2023

Q&A: Uday Awad, member of the Parliament Oil and Gas Committee

An MP from Basra and influential member of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Awad outlined his position on foreign oil companies in Iraq and Iran's role in the oil sector.

Dec 1, 2022

Q&A: Assad Muhair Karim, director general for southern electricity transmission

Iraq is racing to upgrade transmission infrastructure and improve electricity service in the south in time for next summer.

Dec 1, 2022

Q&A: Bafel Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan

The PUK leader discusses deteriorating political rivalries within Kurdistan and their impact on both gas development and impending negotiations with Baghdad over oil rights.

Oct 31, 2022

Q&A: Ali Qays Abdul-Jabbar, Director of the Iraqi Oil Tankers Company

Iraq’s State Oil Tankers Company hopes to rebuild its fleet to take on crude oil exports and match its Gulf peers.

Oct 26, 2022

Q&A: Hussein Abdul-Kadhim, Zubair field operations director

Oil production at Zubair is being ramped up towards a targeted 700,000 bpd within five years, but that goal will require more water injection than is currently available.

Oct 24, 2022

Q&A: Ali Yousif Zaboon, director of field operations at West Qurna 1

Production capacity at the West Qurna 1 oil field is set to increase to 600,000 bpd in 2023 despite operator ExxonMobil’s planned exit.

Sep 28, 2022

Q&A: Dhia Shaker al-Luaibi, director of Majnoon oil field

One of Iraq's largest oil fields is nearly doubling its capacity next year — and, with new seismic work, likely increasing reserves beyond its current 47 billion barrels.