Politics

Analysis: Iraqi elections approach, with high stakes for energy sector

Political insiders weigh in on potential election outcomes and their implications for the country’s investment climate.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (center) and Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghani (right) attend a ceremony to mark the opening of a 50 MW power plant at the Baiji refinery on Aug. 2, 2025. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry media office)

Jun 12, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: June 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.

Jun 6, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: June 2, 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.

Jun 4, 2019

Q&A: Zuhair al-Araji, mayor of Mosul

To recover from a devastating war, Iraq’s second-largest city needs a massive mobilization of resources and coherent planning and organization – but it’s getting neither.

May 29, 2019

Iraq’s North Oil Co. sues to take Khurmala back from KRG

Khurmala Dome accounts for one-third of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil output; the federal North Oil Company, which controlled the field until 2008, is taking legal action to reclaim it.

May 29, 2019

Kurdistan begins government formation despite unresolved divisions

The KRG Parliament elected Nechirvan Barzani president, as the rival PUK party boycotted and questioned his “political legitimacy.”

May 28, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: May 28, 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.

May 24, 2019

Baghdad-Kurdistan oil disputes flare up in Parliament

After a period of detente following the formation of a new government, politicians are raising new complaints about federal budget payments to Kurdistan.

May 23, 2019

Deals in limbo as Oil Ministry fights political headwinds

As populist MPs raise unsubstantiated corruption allegations around oil projects, decision makers are moving cautiously on major initiatives while they beat back political opportunists.

May 21, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: May 21, 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.

May 18, 2019

U.S. warnings spur Exxon evacuation of expats

Production is unaffected and the security situation appears calm as ExxonMobil evacuates dozens of foreign staff from the West Qurna 1 field, following U.S. claims of threats from Iran.