Interviews

Q&A: Habib Abdul Amir, director of the Shuaiba refinery’s FCC project

A major upgrade for Basra's flagship refinery is coming online, promising to boost high-octane gasoline supplies.

Habib Abdul Amir, director of the Shuaiba refinery's FCC project, at his office at project headquarters in January 2026. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)

May 4, 2012

Q&A: Iraq’s chief auditor Abdulbasit Turki Saeed

The president of the federal Board of Supreme Audit, Abdulbasit Turki Saeed, tells Iraq Oil Report about his efforts to investigate Kurdistan's oil sector.

May 4, 2012

Q&A: Hussain al-Shahristani and Abdul Karim Luaibi

In the aftermath of Kurdistan's April 1 export cutoff, Iraq's deputy prime minister for energy and its oil minister speak out.

Apr 19, 2012

Q&A: Electricity Ministry IG Alaa Mohie el-Deen

Iraq’s oil transparency and electricity watchdog has two tough goals: transparency for the domestic oil sector and accountability for the most maligned ministry.

Feb 15, 2012

Q&A: South Oil Co. chief Dhia Jaffar

The head of one of the largest oil producing companies in the world discusses plans to boost capacity, even as IOCs consider leaving.

Feb 8, 2012

Q&A: Mahdi Badi of the South Oil Company

Days before the start-up of a new export line, the man in charge talks about what it takes to build new arteries between fields and tankers.

Dec 22, 2011

Q&A: Hussain al-Shahristani

The government's top energy official discusses ExxonMobil's options, fourth bidding round contract models, and federalism.

Dec 13, 2011

Q&A: The new head of Iraq’s energy security

The head of the Energy Police, a new directorate in charge of all energy infrastructure protection, describes his organization and its challenges on the eve of the U.S. withdrawal.

Nov 25, 2011

Q&A: Barham Salih

Shortly after signing watershed deals with ExxonMobil, the KRG's prime minister discusses the resource curse, the U.S. withdrawal, and the future of Kurdistan's oil sector.

Nov 22, 2011

Q&A: Genel Energy’s Tony Hayward and Mehmet Sepil

The leaders of the new Genel Energy talk to reporters about prospects in KRG and beyond, life with Exxon, and sanctity of their deals.

Nov 15, 2011

Q&A: Ashti Hawrami

The Minister of Natural Resources for the Kurdistan region of Iraq talks about the ExxonMobil deal, prospects for the oil law, and refining policies.