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)

Oct 18, 2018

UPDATE: Luiebi delays INOC order following incoming government complaint

Iraq's state oil companies are now told to delay pivot of authority from oil ministry to new national oil company.

Oct 18, 2018

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Oct. 16, 2018

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

Oct 10, 2018

Luiebi named head of new national oil company

Cabinet names sitting oil minister as INOC president in special decision, Oil Ministry spokesperson says.

Oct 10, 2018

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Oct. 9, 2018

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

Oct 5, 2018

Analysis: Salih’s victory shakes Kurdistan’s political landscape

The KRG's two dominant political parties had been rebuilding a strategic partnership, but their bitter contest over the Iraqi presidency has injected new volatility into their rivalry.

Oct 3, 2018

Adil Abd al-Mahdi, ex-oil minister, tapped as Iraq prime minister

Hours after being elected president, Barham Salih tasks Adil Abd al-Mahdi, the former oil minister, to form the next government.

Sep 27, 2018

Lawsuit imperils formation of Iraq National Oil Company

A major restructuring of Iraq’s oil sector appears to be delayed — and could possibly be derailed — by a legal challenge.

Sep 23, 2018

Iraq seeks sanctions waiver on vital Iran energy trade

Iraq depends on Iran for more than one-third of its power generation — a major sticking point as Washington prepares to re-impose sanctions.

Sep 10, 2018

Baghdad-KRG oil rights case delayed again

Iraq's Federal Supreme Court is struggling to appoint impartial technical experts to help parse the arguments over the legality of Kurdistan's independent oil sector.

Sep 6, 2018

Basra protests explode into widespread violence

As rioters burned government and political party offices, protesters threatened action against oil facilities.