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)

Feb 17, 2016

Rivalries trump resettlement in liberated territory

The town of Sulaiman Bek epitomizes a major challenge facing Iraq: IS has been ousted, but ethno-sectarian politics are preventing displaced civilians from returning.

Feb 4, 2016

KRG slashes payroll to stave off budget collapse

Facing huge deficits and an economic crisis, Kurdistan’s government has little choice but to cut wages and risk further public unrest.

Feb 3, 2016

Kirkuk receives petrodollars from Kurdistan government

$10 million payment consolidates Kirkuk’s oil within the Kurdistan region’s exports, delivering cash to the province while shoring up a critical ingredient of the KRG’s oil mix.

Feb 2, 2016

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Feb. 2, 2016

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

Jan 27, 2016

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Jan. 26, 2016

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

Jan 21, 2016

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Jan. 20, 2016

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

Jan 20, 2016

Strikes, protests reignite as Kurdistan salary delays worsen

The KRG's deepening economic crisis is again sparking public unrest and threatening to further aggravate internal political divisions.

Jan 13, 2016

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Jan. 12, 2016

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

Jan 13, 2016

Q&A: Lukman Faily, Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S.

Iraq's envoy to Washington discusses the scope of destruction wrought by IS militants, the resources needed to respond, and what comes next in the war.

Jan 6, 2016

SOC splits into Basra, Dhi Qar oil companies

The Iraqi Cabinet has finalized the creation of the Dhi Qar Oil Company. South Oil Company has been renamed the Basra Oil Company.