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)

Jan 3, 2020

Iraqi oil sector holds fast amid storm of U.S.-Iran conflict

Production and exports so far unaffected as some foreign oil workers evacuate, following the U.S. assassination of Qassim Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis.

Dec 31, 2019

Senior brain drain looms for Oil Ministry if federal retirement order goes into effect

Order reflects new labor law mandating retirement age of 60 except for ministers.

Dec 31, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Dec. 30, 2019

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

Dec 30, 2019

Political vacuum could upend key Oil Ministry plans

A project to double the Nassiriya field's production capacity is tied to a federal budget likely strangled by political fighting.

Dec 29, 2019

Nassiriya oil field shut in as protests block staff access

Oil Ministry takes an 82,000 bpd field offline as de-escalation tactic in response to protests; overall production and exports unlikely to be affected nationwide.

Dec 26, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Dec. 24, 2019

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

Dec 19, 2019

2020 budget delayed amidst political chaos

Iraq is headed for the new year without a new budget, casting uncertainty on investment spending plans and financial flows for Kurdistan.

Dec 17, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Dec. 17, 2019

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

Dec 13, 2019

Baz Karim emerges as frontrunner to lead KRG oil sector

A long-time central player in Kurdistan's oil industry, the CEO of KAR Group has already become a trusted advisor of KRG Prime Minister Masrur Barzani.

Dec 11, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Dec. 11, 2019

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