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)

Dec 5, 2024

Iraqi oil exports recede as OPEC-plus extends cuts

Iraq's oil sales continued a slow decline in November as the OPEC-plus coalition decided quotas will stay lower for longer.

Nov 26, 2024

Iranian pipeline outage underscores urgency of Iraq’s domestic gas projects

Iraqi gas imports have fallen by about 70 percent after Iran scheduled a temporary pipeline maintenance period to prioritize its own energy supply.

Nov 21, 2024

CORRECTED: Iraq deepens production cuts

The Oil Ministry made major cuts at state-operated fields in October in a bid to answer OPEC-plus concerns over quota compliance.

Nov 19, 2024

Mansuriya gas field contract signed despite security, political challenges

China's Jereh and the local firm PetroIraq clinch a deal that could give a badly needed boost to Iraq's domestic energy supply.

Nov 12, 2024

Q&A: Jassim Kamel Marzouq, director of the Khor al-Zubair port

As Iraq’s fuel trade increases, a central hub for fuel exports and imports is expanding.

Nov 8, 2024

Cabinet advances proposal for northern oil export restart

Iraq's main political factions appear to have an initial agreement for paying Kurdistan's oil companies for exports, but legislative, legal, and practical hurdles remain.

Nov 6, 2024

Iraqi oil exports steady in October

Muted oil sales reflect Iraq's ongoing efforts to comply with OPEC-plus quota agreements.

Oct 29, 2024

September production drops in response to OPEC quota pressure

Iraq cut output at state-operated fields and shifted maintenance schedules in a bid to improve OPEC-plus compliance.

Oct 29, 2024

Iraq signs 5-plus and 6th round contracts

Thirteen deals from the May licensing round were finalized and signed at a ceremony in Baghdad, as Chinese firms further expand their footprint in Iraq’s oil sector.

Oct 22, 2024

Abdulghani returns to ministry, but leadership questions linger

The oil minister is back at his desk after a health scare, but his multi-week absence surfaced unresolved political rivalries that could shake up oil sector leadership.