Interviews

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.

Ali Shaddad al-Faris, member of the Parliament Oil and Gas Committee. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)

Oct 26, 2021

Q&A: Begard Talabani, KRG Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources

Climate change, drought, and strained water relations with Iran and Turkey are creating major challenges for Kurdistan and its farmers.

Oct 18, 2021

Q&A: Kadhim Matroud, BOC director for Siba gas field

Output is rising at Iraq's only commercially producing dry gas field, but reserves estimates have been cut in half.

Sep 23, 2021

Q&A: Farhan Muhssin al-Fartousi, head of the General Company for Ports of Iraq

Work on the Grand Fao port project is moving forward, and oil product exports via Khor al-Zubair are getting an upgrade.

Sep 14, 2021

Q&A: Hossam Hussein Walli, director general of the South Refineries Company

Expansions of southern Iraq's refining capacity appear to depend on negotiations with foreign investors.

Sep 6, 2021

Q&A: Ali Nazar al-Shatari, deputy director general of SOMO

Infrastructure bottlenecks will limit Iraq's exports and production in the short term, but SOMO is squeezing value from oil sales through new marketing strategies.

Aug 19, 2021

Q&A: Jabar Yawar, Secretary General of the Peshmerga

Developments in Afghanistan have cast a shadow over the U.S. role in supporting anti-ISIS forces in Iraq, but the longstanding Peshmerga commander says there's no sign of an American pull out.

Aug 11, 2021

Q&A: Kurdistan Region VP Sheikh Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa

The former Peshmerga leader and PUK politburo member reflects on the priorities and crises facing the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Jul 30, 2021

Q&A: Oil Minister Ihsan Ismaael

Iraq’s oil chief discusses negotiations with Total and Chevron, arbitration with Exxon, the future of INOC, several gas project updates, and budget talks with the Kurdistan region.

Jul 1, 2021

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

Iraq is continuing to negotiate with Total over the Ratawi gas hub as export cuts from Iran and nationwide electricity failures highlight the need for new domestic energy supply.

Jun 15, 2021

Q&A: Habat al-Halbusi, chair of the Parliament Oil and Energy Committee

The MP leading Parliament's oversight of Iraq's oil and electricity sectors discusses the importance of gas development and the status of INOC legislation.