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)

Jul 21, 2017

Head of Dhi Qar Oil Company replaced

Ali Warid Hamoud, formerly of the Missan Oil Company, is the third director general appointed to lead the newly formed DQOC in less than four months.

Jul 11, 2017

Top Basra officials implicated in electricity corruption

Basra's governor and head of the provincial council are both being investigated for corruption in an electricity supply deal.

Jul 10, 2017

Iraq opens border blocks for new investment

Foreign oil companies are invited to propose contracts – though not production sharing – for eight exploration blocks on the borders with Iran and Kuwait, as well as one offshore exploration block.

Jul 1, 2017

Legal action deters KRG crude sales to Canada

After Baghdad obtained a Canadian warrant to seize a tanker of Kurdistan exports, the Neverland has sailed back into the Atlantic Ocean.

Jul 1, 2017

Oil export plateau continues in June

Iraqi exports have remained steady since February - and well below capacity - as the government maintains its efforts to support an OPEC cut agreement.

Jun 29, 2017

Iranian gas trickles into Iraq after multi-year delay

Power plants in Diyala and Baghdad are running tests on newly flowing Iranian gas, but security problems and payment terms remain unresolved.

Jun 28, 2017

Iraq production steady at 4.58 million bpd

An analysis of field-by-field data shows Iraqi production is significantly higher than official estimates used by OPEC.

Jun 22, 2017

Federal crude flows to two northern Iraq refineries

One refinery was fixed after IS was cleared out. The other is part of a political deal between Baghdad and Kurdistan.

Jun 14, 2017

Chicken farm explosion reveals oil smuggling racket

Investigators suspect members of the Badr Organization paramilitary group conducted a small but steady smuggling operation at a makeshift military base south of Kirkuk.

Jun 9, 2017

Rising insurgency hits Diyala, despite security efforts

In territory that was ostensibly liberated two years ago, security forces, civilians, and energy infrastructure have become regular targets of an intensifying IS guerrilla war.