Interviews

Q&A: Muntaser Kadhim Haloub, deputy director general of the South Refineries Company

Southern Iraq's refining sector is expanding, creating a better supply of high-quality fuels and rising demand for crude feedstock.

Muntaser Kadhim Haloub, deputy director general for technical affairs at the South Refineries Company, at his office in Basra in February 2026. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)

Apr 20, 2022

Q&A: Haidar Fakher Nasser, director of Khor al-Zubair port

The head of Iraq's main hub for fuel imports and exports discusses the capacity of the port and ongoing projects to rehabilitate and expand the facility.

Apr 18, 2022

Q&A: Ibrahim Abdul-Zahra, deputy director of the South Refineries Company

Iraq’s refineries cannot meet domestic demand for fuel and the poor quality of crude feedstock is compounding the problem.

Apr 14, 2022

Q&A: Ali Jassim Hammoud, Director General of the Missan Oil Company

The second largest state oil firm is targeting an increase in oil production to 1 million bpd through expansion of existing facilities and developing new fields in Missan province.

Apr 7, 2022

Q&A: Rafeeq Hashem al-Salihi, MP from Basra and member of the Fatah Alliance

A politician, tribal sheikh, and paramilitary leader, Salihi says Basra deserves a larger portion of federal oil revenue and increased support for its agriculture sector.

Apr 1, 2022

Q&A: Ihsan Ismaael, Oil Minister and President of INOC

Iraq's top oil leader discusses implementation of a mega-deal with TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil's exit, and the aftermath of a landmark court ruling on Kurdistan's oil sector.

Mar 24, 2022

Q&A: Basra Gas Company Deputy Director Marfaa Kadhim al-Asadi

The joint venture between state-owned South Gas Company, Shell, and Mitsubishi is expanding its processing capacity to capture up to 94 percent of the associated gas produced from the three largest oil producing fields in southern Iraq. The expansion is crucial if Iraq is to reduce the wasteful practice of gas flaring.

Mar 22, 2022

Q&A: Judge Jasem Mohammad Abbood, head of the Federal Supreme Court

Judge Abbood discusses the legal reach of the court following the ruling invalidating the KRG’s oil deals, the disputed legal status of the Iraqi National Oil Company, and legal challenges to changing the dinar exchange rate.

Mar 1, 2022

Q&A: Ali Shaddad al-Faris, MP from Basra

One of the plaintiffs in the landmark Federal Supreme Court case against Kurdistan's independent oil sector discusses fallout from the ruling as well as Parliament's role in energy sector oversight.

Feb 20, 2022

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

An expansion of Iraq's largest refinery is re-starting after a two-year delay, but other projects are in limbo because high crude prices are squeezing margins for the state-run company.

Feb 9, 2022

Q&A: Hatim Abdul-Imam Khudair, director for West Qurna 2

A 200-well driling plan aims to double production at one of Basra's largest fields — including high-value light crude from a relatively untapped reservoir.