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)

Apr 2, 2023

Progress in Baghdad-Erbil talks over northern export restart

Under a provisional compromise deal, SOMO would take over selling crude and KRG would keep control of its oil revenue.

Mar 30, 2023

KRG export outage continues as negotiations falter

Oil companies are beginning to shut down oil production after a landmark arbitration ruling that led Turkey to halt Iraq's northern exports.

Mar 28, 2023

TotalEnergies takes hard line with Iraq on GGIP

CEO frames negotiations as a test of Iraq's ability to prioritize respect for contracts over political expedience.

Mar 25, 2023

Turkey halts Iraq’s northern exports after landmark arbitration ruling

Baghdad's legal victory appears to be altering the balance of power that has enabled Kurdistan's oil sector independence.

Mar 14, 2023

Cabinet passes draft budget with record spending and new KRG framework

Attempting to triangulate between opposing political forces, Sudani also pushes through a long-delayed financial transfer to Kurdistan.

Mar 9, 2023

Oil Ministry eases Kurdistan blacklist pressure

The Sudani administration appears to be turning a blind eye to the blacklist policy enacted by the previous government against KRG oil sector companies.

Mar 5, 2023

Iraq increases training of Hashid paramilitary officers

Rising investment of military resources signals enduring power of politically connected armed groups.

Feb 28, 2023

New oil law negotiations highlight old divisions

In early talks between Baghdad and Erbil, negotiators have outlined the same points of conflict that have stalled oil legislation since 2007.

Feb 17, 2023

TotalEnergies extends deadline to conclude $27bn Iraq deal

After negotiations nearly fell apart two weeks ago, the French firm gave until Feb. 15 to finalize a deal — a deadline now extended by one month.

Feb 14, 2023

KRG misses deadline to end gas flaring

Payment delays to oil companies and bureaucratic disarray have kept the KRG from meeting its own ambitious target for ending the wasteful and polluting practice at several fields.