Politics

Iraq grapples with power shortages and Iran sanctions as summer looms

The expiration of a U.S. sanctions waiver on Iranian electricity imports is complicating Baghdad's balancing act between Tehran and Washington, while the government scrambles for power supply ahead of peak demand season.

Workers from the Southern Projects Commission of Iraq's State Company for Oil Projects assemble a pipeline designed to carry regassified LNG imported via the Khor al-Zubair port in Basra to power stations in February 2025. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)

Mar 19, 2019

U.S. grants Iraq another Iran sanctions waiver

Another 90-day waiver allows for critical power purchases as Iraq tries to balance relations between rival powers.

Mar 19, 2019

Q&A: Haider al-Abadi, former prime minister of Iraq

Five months after leaving office, Abadi reflects on Iraq's political landscape and his successor's handling of energy sector priorities.

Mar 14, 2019

Baghdad hikes monthly payment to Kurdistan

With an infusion of federal money under the newly enacted 2019 budget, the KRG is lifting austerity measures and returning to the days of financial dependence on Baghdad.

Mar 13, 2019

Iraq and China to sign massive financing deal

Imminent agreement will provide some $10 billion in credit for companies to invest, super-charging China's involvement in the Iraqi economy.

Mar 6, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Mar. 5, 2019

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Mar 1, 2019

Q&A: Nazm Dabakh, KRG representative to Iran

After Kurdistan abruptly stopped oil exports to Iran - and then quickly resumed them - the KRG's emissary to Tehran discusses bilateral relations in the age of renewed U.S. sanctions.

Feb 28, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Feb. 26, 2019

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Feb 27, 2019

Court signals skepticism in Baghdad-KRG oil case

Issuing yet another delay in the seven-year-old proceedings, Iraq's chief justice appeared to question whether there is still an active constitutional dispute.

Feb 26, 2019

Iran fuel exports restart after KRG relaxes ban

One week after the Kurdistan region stopped all crude and fuel traffic to Iran, the order has been revised and exports have resumed.

Feb 25, 2019

New Bashiqa drilling touches a political nerve

DNO has begun a drilling campaign in the heart of Iraq's disputed territories, after the Norwegian company took over as operator from ExxonMobil.