Energy

Iraq terminates Akkas contract, drawing legal threats

Cabinet taps state-run Midland Oil Company as operator for fast-track gas field development with help from SLB, but contentious ouster of Ukrzemresurs could spark litigation.

Personnel from the Ukrainian company Ukrzemresurs pose in front of the Akk-1 well at the Akkas gas field after completing emergency maintenance work in the first quarter of 2025. (Photo credit: Ukrzemresurs)

May 9, 2022

Q&A: Mohammed Fazah Abid, director of the Samawah oil refinery

The Samawah oil refinery is pushing to improve the quality of its fuel output and eventually double its size from a current capacity of 30,000 bpd.

May 3, 2022

April exports rise by 200k bpd

Countrywide oil sales have rebounded to their highest level in two years, although infrastructure bottlenecks threaten to limit further increases.

Apr 27, 2022

Iraq taps Dhi Qar oil fields for capacity expansion

Production is rising at the Gharraf field, while the Subba field prepares to come back online and the Nassiriya field starts a new drilling program.

Apr 26, 2022

Q&A: Abdulbaqi K. Ali, Oil Ministry consultant for Energy Affairs

The Oil Ministry's point person for renewable energy discusses new solar projects, gas flaring reduction, and Iraq's Paris Agreement climate goals.

Apr 25, 2022

Q&A: Alaa al-Yassiri, director general of SOMO

The head of Iraq’s state oil marketer discusses expanding and diversifying export routes and the potential for increasing Iraqi crude supply.

Apr 22, 2022

Western sanctions raise hurdles for Russia in Iraq

Russian companies face challenges with payments and reluctance from commercial partners in Iraq following the invasion of Ukraine.

Apr 20, 2022

Q&A: Haidar Fakher Nasser, director of Khor al-Zubair port

The head of Iraq's main hub for fuel imports and exports discusses the capacity of the port and ongoing projects to rehabilitate and expand the facility.

Apr 18, 2022

Iraq’s March crude output edges higher

Iraqi production is rising as two southern fields return from temporary outages and OPEC-plus quotas continue to loosen.

Apr 18, 2022

Q&A: Ibrahim Abdul-Zahra, deputy director of the South Refineries Company

Iraq’s refineries cannot meet domestic demand for fuel and the poor quality of crude feedstock is compounding the problem.

Apr 15, 2022

Fuel smuggling causes shortages and spiking prices

Smugglers are exploiting a growing margin between government-subsidized fuel and market prices in an illicit trade that is squeezing Iraq's fuel supply and costing the government billions.