Interviews

Q&A: Bassim Mohammed Khudair, Deputy Oil Minister for Upstream

Iraq's top upstream oil official confirms that production, curtailed by war, is ready to surge back online — but only once ships can reliably resume Basra Gulf export loadings.

Deputy Oil Minister Bassim Mohammed Khudair (center) and Basra Oil Company Director General Bassim Abdul Karim (right) tour part of the Ratawi project led by TotalEnergies in February 2026. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

Apr 13, 2017

Q&A: Deputy Minister for National Security Affairs Akeel al-Saffar

A long-serving Iraq security official discusses the future of the al-Hashid al-Shabi program and outlines a proposal for providing security services to investors.

Apr 12, 2017

Q&A: Ihsan Ismaael, DG of South Gas Company

Iraq is set to increase gas product exports and reach agreements on gas with with IOCs operating southern oil fields, said Ismaael, who is also the chairman of Basra Gas Company.

Apr 6, 2017

Q&A: Handren Mohammed, Kurdistan’s election chief

The head of Kurdistan's elections and referendum commission discusses its arm's length relationship with Baghdad, and the extent of its mandate in disputed Kirkuk.

Mar 13, 2017

Q&A: Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luiebi

Iraq's Oil Minister is bullish on the country's production targets setting another record this year.

Jan 26, 2017

Q&A: Lt. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, senior Defense Ministry advisor

Gearing up for the security challenges that will come after the Mosul operation, Iraq's military remains optimistic that U.S. support will continue under Trump.

Dec 28, 2016

Q&A: Kirkuk Gov. Najmaldin Karim

Political "chaos" and financial struggles aren't stopping the Kirkuk governor from courting BP and bolstering defenses against the IS group.

Dec 13, 2016

Q&A: Baz Karim, president of KAR Group

The most strategically important energy firm in Kurdistan, KAR manages the majority of the region's production and refining capacity, and its export pipeline.

Dec 5, 2016

Q&A: Falah Alamri, director general of SOMO

Iraq's top oil salesman discusses the future of Basra Heavy, the choices necessary to implement the OPEC quota deal, and making more money on Kirkuk oil sales.

Dec 2, 2016

Q&A: Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luiebi

Undeterred by an impending OPEC production cut, Luiebi turns his attention toward modernizing the gas sector and building long-neglected infrastructure.

Nov 9, 2016

Q&A: NOC chief Farid al-Jadir

To raise output from its fields, the state-run North Oil Company needs to contend with a trifecta of security, financial, and political crises.