Oil veterans bring energy expertise to Prime Minister’s Office

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has appointed two oil industry veterans as energy advisors, creating what could become a new power center in the government for oil-related policymaking beyond the Oil Ministry.

Former Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh Nema replaced Emad Allaq as Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s energy advisor in June, and Falah Alamri, a long-time former director of Iraq’s state oil marketing company, SOMO, became a second advisor on energy and economic affairs last month, according to multiple Oil Ministry and industry officials.

"Fayadh Nema is a strong character and understands the oil sector," said an Iraqi industry official. "He is professional and managed to climb up in the ministry’s ranks, enjoys the respect of the ministry’s leadership, is popular in the ministry, and has technical and managerial experience."