Energy

New SOMO director named as Iraq reshuffles oil sector leadership

Ali Nazar al-Shatari will be Iraq's new head of oil marketing as the Sudani government makes changes across several top oil posts.

SOMO Deputy Director General and Head of Crude Ali Nazar al-Shatari (right), at the Nov. 30, 2016, OPEC meeting in Vienna with then-Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar Ali al-Luiebi (center), and then-SOMO Director General Falah Alamri (left). (Source: OPEC Media Office)

Mar 24, 2023

Q&A: Hamza Abdul-Baqi, director general of South Gas Company

The head of southern Iraq's gas sector discusses the expansion of BGC, associated gas processing at Nahr Bin Omar, and the Ratawi gas hub.

Mar 17, 2023

Qayarah field set to restart, with exports via Basra

The heavy oil field has been mostly offline for three years, but is scheduled to resume imminently with 30,000 bpd of production.

Mar 17, 2023

February oil sales rise on higher northern exports

Increase of 94,000 bpd mainly due to higher volumes of both KRG and federal exports via Turkey.

Mar 14, 2023

Cabinet passes draft budget with record spending and new KRG framework

Attempting to triangulate between opposing political forces, Sudani also pushes through a long-delayed financial transfer to Kurdistan.

Mar 11, 2023

Iraq explores new partners for Nahr Bin Omar gas project

The Cabinet has authorized negotiations for a project to build 300 million scf/d of associated gas processing capacity at the Basra field.

Mar 9, 2023

Iraq replaces head of oil marketing company

Ammar Abdal al-Anbagi has taken over as the new director general of SOMO, ending the five-year tenure of Alaa al-Yassiri.

Mar 9, 2023

Oil Ministry eases Kurdistan blacklist pressure

The Sudani administration appears to be turning a blind eye to the blacklist policy enacted by the previous government against KRG oil sector companies.

Mar 2, 2023

Fiscal, technical, and political challenges crimp KRG oil output

Oil companies warn of further production declines as Kurdistan's payment problems discourage investment.

Feb 28, 2023

New oil law negotiations highlight old divisions

In early talks between Baghdad and Erbil, negotiators have outlined the same points of conflict that have stalled oil legislation since 2007.

Feb 21, 2023

Iraq signs 5th round contracts, previews potential 6th round

Iraq has finally inked deals first awarded in 2018, raising hopes for the Oil Ministry's efforts to prepare a sixth contract licensing round.