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 21, 2015

Teachers stay out on strike across Sulaimaniya

Large street protests by unpaid teachers and civil servants continue after demonstrations earlier in October led to violence.

Oct 14, 2015

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Oct. 13, 2015

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 12, 2015

KRG ruling party ejects rivals, escalating political crisis

Speaker of Parliament denounces "coup" as security forces loyal to Massoud Barzani's ruling KDP party block him, and other ministers, from the capital.

Oct 6, 2015

Pressure mounts on Kurdistan’s oil minister

Polarized by the dispute over President Barzani's tenure, rivals factions in Kurdistan are targeting Ashti Hawrami with political attacks and a legal investigation.

Oct 6, 2015

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Oct. 6, 2015

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 6, 2015

Strikes spreading over KRG salary delays

Public-sector employees are losing patience with a government hobbled by a financial crisis and internal political squabbling over the presidency.

Sep 24, 2015

Court blocks KRG’s oil route to U.S. as Israel exports grow

Appellate court ruling affirms Baghdad's legal foundation to contest KRG exports in the U.S., as Kurdistan's oil sector increasingly relies on opaque sales via Israel.

Sep 23, 2015

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Sept. 22, 2015

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

Sep 2, 2015

New North Oil Company chief appointed

Former NOC planning director Akram Fouad Ahmed appointed by order from PM Abadi as new director general.

Aug 26, 2015

UPDATE: Pipeline outages threaten Kurdistan oil autonomy

The KRG's economic lifeline is down again - and has been for one-third of August - as the government risks sliding into a spiral of debt.