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)

Sep 28, 2017

Qayarah and Haditha refineries re-open

The Oil Ministry is re-starting the Qayarah refinery, which had temporarily shut due to smuggling concerns, as well as Anbar province's Haditha refinery.

Sep 26, 2017

As Kurdistan casts independence vote, threats loom

The KRG oil sector is in the crosshairs of Iraq's Parliament and Turkey's president, who are seeking to stop the momentum of Kurdish secession after Monday's referendum.

Sep 25, 2017

Showdown turns to oil as referendum dispute intensifies

The day before Monday's Kurdistan independence referendum, Iraq's National Security Council called on the world to respect claims to federal control over oil and borders.

Sep 19, 2017

Kurdistan gets Russian vote of confidence

Besieged by international pressure to delay its independence referendum, the KRG gets geopolitical backup from a Rosneft agreement to underwrite oil and gas export pipelines.

Sep 14, 2017

Shell accelerates Iraq drawdown with Majnoon exit

Negotiations begin over handing back the Majnoon operatorship, months after stake in West Qurna 1 was put up for sale, highlighting one major oil company's resistance to Iraq's tough terms.

Sep 12, 2017

Hawija offensive hamstrung by Baghdad-Erbil mistrust

Long-standing disputes over Kirkuk and its oil threaten to turn allies against each other as they prepare to chase IS from one of its last strongholds in Iraq.

Sep 11, 2017

Alamri out as head of Iraq’s oil sales

The latest shakeup of Oil Ministry leadership sees longtime SOMO chief replaced with senior ministry official currently focused on financial matters.

Sep 8, 2017

DNO takes Exxon operatorship

The Norwegian oil company will get half of ExxonMobil's stake in the Bashiqa block, one of three contracts it still holds with Iraqi Kurdistan, in the latest confidence-building move that could help the sector regain its momentum.

Sep 7, 2017

New chiefs for Basra Oil and South Gas companies

Iraq's oil minister swapped the leaders at two of Iraq's most important state-run energy companies.

Sep 5, 2017

Oil revenues up, but August exports dip

Iraq is averaging higher-than-expected oil prices so far this year, but is struggling to maintain export volumes as a result of OPEC cuts and disputes with Kurdistan.