Energy

Iran reversal on Strait of Hormuz threatens Iraq’s nascent export restart

Iranian forces blocked a tanker carrying Iraqi crude, dampening hopes for a durable resumption of Iraq's southern exports.

The Agios Fanourios I tanker prepares to dock at a single point mooring buoy in the Basra Gulf in April 2026 for the first loading of crude from Iraq's southern export outlets in more than a month. (Photo credit: Ministry of Transportation)

Mar 7, 2024

Security incident at Ratawi over land claims

Gunmen made threats against a mine clearance subcontractor over land compensation claims that some security officials described as attempted extortion.

Mar 4, 2024

February oil exports rebound

After a lower OPEC-plus quota appeared to dampen Iraqi exports in January, oil sales bounced back in February.

Feb 16, 2024

Iraq revives Nassiriya Integrated Project with Gazprom talks

Cabinet approves direct negotiations for a combined upstream and refinery deal that the Oil Ministry has tried to advance for over a decade.

Feb 2, 2024

Q&A: Montaser Kadhim Haloub, director of the Southern Oil Projects Commission

Iraq's state-run Oil Projects Company has helped drive recent progress at Rumaila and the Shuaiba refinery, but key export expansion projects are still far from completion.

Jan 31, 2024

Iraq delivers steady oil production in 2023 despite turbulence

Oil Ministry aims for capacity increases in 2024 despite tighter OPEC-plus quota and infrastructure bottlenecks.

Jan 27, 2024

Drone strike hits Khor Mor, causing temporary power cuts

Thursday's attack on the gas field — the seventh in two years — caused a fire and forced a shutdown in gas production critical for power supplies in both Kurdistan and federal Iraq.

Jan 24, 2024

Q&A: Hossam Hussein Wali, director general of the South Refineries Company

Iraq's largest refinery has expanded its capacity by 70,000 bpd after long delays related to an unresolved dispute with a contractor.

Jan 16, 2024

Progress on Kurdistan budget deal, but obstacles remain

Baghdad approves temporary funding deal but unresolved oil issues hang over a potential budget law amendment to unlock more reliable financial transfers.

Jan 13, 2024

Q&A: Farhan Muhssin al-Fartousi, head of the General Company for Ports of Iraq

Recent progress in the long-delayed Grand Fao Port project is raising Iraq's hopes of becoming a major international commerce hub.

Jan 11, 2024

Iraqi exports finish down year with a December surge

Nationwide oil sales dropped in 2023 due to the northern pipeline outage, but federal exports hit a four-year high in December.