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)

Jan 9, 2020

U.S. sanctions threats cast shadow on Iraqi economy

Billions of oil dollars and access to Iranian power and gas are at risk if Trump rejects a sanctions waiver renewal next month – or worse, if Iraq is sanctioned itself, as he has threatened.

Jan 7, 2020

Iraq again sets oil export record in 2019

Oil sales have jumped by 1 million bpd in the past five years, though future growth prospects are clouded by geopolitical uncertainty.

Jan 3, 2020

Iraqi oil sector holds fast amid storm of U.S.-Iran conflict

Production and exports so far unaffected as some foreign oil workers evacuate, following the U.S. assassination of Qassim Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis.

Jan 3, 2020

December exports fall, but revenues rise on strong oil price

As Iraq throttles back production to meet OPEC quota, higher global oil prices help offset reduced exports.

Dec 31, 2019

Senior brain drain looms for Oil Ministry if federal retirement order goes into effect

Order reflects new labor law mandating retirement age of 60 except for ministers.

Dec 30, 2019

Political vacuum could upend key Oil Ministry plans

A project to double the Nassiriya field's production capacity is tied to a federal budget likely strangled by political fighting.

Dec 30, 2019

Nassiriya field back online after protest-related outage

The Nassiriya oil field and Dhi Qar refinery are operating again after the Oil Ministry took them offline temporarily to de-escalate protests.

Dec 29, 2019

Nassiriya oil field shut in as protests block staff access

Oil Ministry takes an 82,000 bpd field offline as de-escalation tactic in response to protests; overall production and exports unlikely to be affected nationwide.

Dec 25, 2019

Islamic State suspected of oil field attack Tuesday near Kirkuk

The killing of an oil facilities policeman at a Khabbaz well comes as insurgent attacks are on the upswing.

Dec 22, 2019

Facing tighter OPEC policy, Iraq continues output cuts

State-operated fields in Basra throttle back production as Iraq moves to support an OPEC agreement and bolster global oil prices.