Energy

Kurdistan crude export deadlock persists

Hard-liners in Baghdad appear to be rejecting compromise with oil companies in negotiations to reopen the northern pipeline to Turkey.

Iraqi Prime Minsiter Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (center) and Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghani (left) visit a project to install a gas pipeline to feed the Bismayah power station on April 3, 2025. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

Jul 20, 2022

Iraq refining sector makes incremental gains

Projects nearing completion this year could boost refining capacity by 140,000 bpd, despite chronic failures to attract foreign capital.

Jul 13, 2022

Q&A: Bassem Abdul Karim Nassir, head of the Iraqi Drilling Company

Iraq's state company for drilling has idle rigs ready for more upstream development.

Jul 8, 2022

Kurdistan amends regional oil law, reviving Oil and Gas Council

New amendments give the KRG's ruling party control of the energy sector's main policymaking body, which had been dormant for more than two years.

Jul 6, 2022

Court postpones hearing on Gulf Keystone contract with KRG

Days after declaring four of Kurdistan's oil contracts to be invalid, Baghdad court schedules a hearing on three others for July 17.

Jul 4, 2022

Baghdad court declares four KRG oil contracts void

Secretive ruling marks escalation in Oil Ministry campaign to end Kurdistan's oil sector independence.

Jul 4, 2022

Baghdad court rejects Kurdistan’s delay tactics in lawsuit against IOCs

The Oil Ministry’s lawsuit against seven oil companies operating in Kurdistan gained momentum as a Baghdad judge moves toward reviewing contracts.

Jun 29, 2022

Halliburton pledges to obey blacklist policy against KRG oil sector

Three major U.S. oil services companies have now told the Oil Ministry they will comply with new restrictions stemming from February's landmark court ruling against Kurdistan.

Jun 28, 2022

Oil services companies bow to Baghdad blacklist

Oil Ministry pressure tactics are beginning to inflict pain in the wake of the Federal Supreme Court's landmark ruling against Kurdistan's energy sector.

Jun 28, 2022

Khor Mor expansion suspended after rocket attacks

Repeated attacks have halted a major U.S.-financed project to expand Kurdistan’s electricity feedstock and develop extra capacity toward potential, future gas exports to Europe.

Jun 25, 2022

Third attack hits Khor Mor gas field

The gas field providing feedstock for most of Kurdistan’s electricity has come under rocket or mortar fire three times in four days.