Politics

Iraq grapples with power shortages and Iran sanctions as summer looms

The expiration of a U.S. sanctions waiver on Iranian electricity imports is complicating Baghdad's balancing act between Tehran and Washington, while the government scrambles for power supply ahead of peak demand season.

Workers from the Southern Projects Commission of Iraq's State Company for Oil Projects assemble a pipeline designed to carry regassified LNG imported via the Khor al-Zubair port in Basra to power stations in February 2025. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)

Mar 5, 2020

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

Insurgents and gangs continue to fill a security vacuum in Iraq’s disputed territories, as talks between federal and Kurdish forces have been derailed by the political impacts of the Soleimani assassination.

Mar 4, 2020

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: March 3, 2020

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Mar 3, 2020

Thamir Ghadhban proposed to co-lead interim government

Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi said his two deputies and his security chief should effectively run the government until a new premier is confirmed or elections take place.

Feb 26, 2020

Oil expert Husain al-Chalabi nominated for Oil Minister

Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi's partial list of proposed Cabinet positions has been made public.

Feb 26, 2020

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Feb. 25, 2020

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Feb 26, 2020

Q&A: Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi

The person tapped to lead Iraq's next government digs into the energy sector details of the plan he submitted to Parliament, ahead of a vote on his Cabinet.

Feb 20, 2020

Likely next NOC chief versed in northern Iraq complexities

Bashir Murad oversaw fields in the far reaches of northwest Iraq while developing high-level credentials with Baghdad.

Feb 19, 2020

Oil exports into Iraqi Kurdistan give Syrian Kurds a financial lifeline

Over several years, Iraqi Kurdistan has become a key market for Syrian crude and provider of refined fuel – a trade worth tens of millions of dollars per month.

Feb 18, 2020

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Feb. 18, 2020

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Feb 12, 2020

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Feb. 11, 2020

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.