Politics

Northern exports stalled by Baghdad-Erbil disputes

With southern oil exports choked off by war, Baghdad cannot use its only backup pipeline route because of a fight with the KRG over customs revenue control.

Oil tanks at Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, which is run by state-owned Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS). (UMIT BEKTAS/Reuters)

Nov 20, 2007

Iraqi Kurds vs. Baghdad heats up over oil deals … Kirkuk vote unclear … Unspinning the Surge … Remembering Basra

Iraqi Kurds issued a scathing rebuke of Iraq's oil minister, who has warned companies signing deals in the north will be kept out of the rest of the country. "Our contracts with the (international oil companies) are both constitutional and legal within the framework of the Kurdistan Oil and Gas Law, the only existing framework […]

Nov 16, 2007

Shahristani all for non-”opportunist” oil firms … Iraq production up in north and south … Forgotten Halabja survivors

Oil companies are welcome to Iraq, Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said, except for the "opportunist" firms already in Iraqi Kurd territory -- Ben Lando for United Press International. Iraq is producing nearly 2.5 million barrels per day, a giant step forward, as the security situation improves, its oil minister said -- Ben Lando for UPI. […]

Nov 15, 2007

Shahristani on KRG deals … billions to boost production … Iraq gas for Nabucco … Electricity hunt

(Note to readers: Iraq Oil Report this week will continue to be the fully packed but contextually abridged version as the OPEC Summit in Riyadh cares not for the tired and overworked. Enjoy!) Also, click HERE to get an e-mail notification when the Iraq Oil Report is updated. Iraq’s Oil In a move that could […]

Nov 13, 2007

U.S. building military base to guard Iraq oil in Gulf

(Short post today, en route to Riyadh for the OPEC Summit) The U.S. is building a military installation at one of Iraq’s oil ports on the Gulf. Eventually, it is to be turned over to the Iraq Navy, Chip Cummins and Hassan Hafidh report for The Wall Street Journal. Their story also includes a good […]

Nov 12, 2007

TNK-BP affiliate one of 5 new oil deals with Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government

The KRG announced the deals Monday, five production sharing contracts with Norbest Limited, an affiliate of TNK-BP; a Korean National Oil Company-led consortium; Hillwood International Energy company HKN Energy; and with subsidiaries of UK-listed Sterling Energy LLC and Denver-based Aspect Energy LLC. Check out the KRG release. And, as always, Iraq Oil Report will have […]

Nov 5, 2007

Iraq says “No,” again, to Lukoil deal … Smuggling Iraq’s fortunes … The Turkish Invasion

An oil deal signed between Russian oil giant Lukoil and Saddam Hussein has long been relegated as null and void by Iraq’s Oil Ministry. It’s for a major oil field, with 11 billion barrels, but Iraq says Saddam cancelled it and would not uphold or renegotiated any deals that weren’t active at the time of […]

Nov 2, 2007

Syria wants to process Iraq oil — Iraqi gas to power Europe — Target: President Talabani

(Apologies. I am travelling and the brief format of today's update reflects that. Monday brings normalcy to the Iraq Oil Report.) Syria Plans $3 Billion Refinery to Process Iraqi Oil, Maher Chmaytelli writes for Bloomberg. - Iraq, other Arab states will supply Europe with gas next year, the Gulf Daily News reports. - Opportunities in […]

Nov 1, 2007

Iraq oil, below the volatile south and north strife

Plus: Issam Chalabi, one-on-one Baghdad's uneven power distribution U.S. OK's Saddam-era oil law deals Tackling unemployment The most underrated powder keg in Iraq is located in the south -- away from Baghdad’s political beef and the Turkish invasion of Iraq’s northern front -- where 80 percent of Iraq’s proven oil reserves are located. Political factions, […]

Oct 31, 2007

U.S. OK’s Saddam oil law for today’s oil deals

The U.S. State Department says an oil law implemented under Saddam Hussein is good enough for Iraq’s national government to sign oil deals, though it would prefer a new national law -- mired in controversy and far from approved -- to be used instead. The new position is a shift for the U.S. government, or […]

Oct 26, 2007

The State Department again warns oil companies from signing deals with Iraq

Plus: A Turkish Invasion Update Iraq Oil Smuggling and Keeping Tabs on the Loot Iraqis Against Biden Remembering King Faisal II The U.S. is reiterating its plea to international oil not to sign oil deals in Iraq prior to a national oil law. "We continue to advise companies from outside of Iraq that they incur […]