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 22, 2012

Analysis: Iraq’s challenges on display for Summit

A renewed eruption of violent attacks and political controversy underscore the government's unstable hold of power, days before Arab League Summit.

Mar 16, 2012

KRG threatens export cutoff

A year-old export agreement with Baghdad appears to be going sour, as Kurdistan demands $1 billion in backlogged payments and levies allegations of missing oil.

Mar 7, 2012

Iraq fights for transparency bid

Overcoming resistance from companies favoring secrecy, Iraq has published the first report on its road to international transparency certification.

Feb 16, 2012

Kurds in Baghdad rebuff Exxon critics

The top Kurdish official in the Iraqi Cabinet speaks out against his fellow ministers' hard-line stance against Exxon.

Feb 15, 2012

Basra gains clout amidst protests

Locals near the Shell-operated Majnoon oil field staged demonstrations over unemployment, as visiting leaders from Baghdad met provincial demands for more powers and better services.

Feb 14, 2012

Exxon has ‘days’ to respond

Deputy PM says ExxonMobil must soon respond to Baghdad's ultimatum and freeze deals in Kurdistan or else lose all opportunities in southern Iraq.

Jan 30, 2012

4th bid round delayed, Exxon still qualified

The fourth bidding round is now scheduled for May 30-31, as the model contract evolves and IOCs get time to respond.

Jan 26, 2012

Oil law struggles for daylight

Parliament committee could press for formal validation of existing oil deals with Baghdad and KRG, but efforts are being overshadowed by political crisis.

Jan 6, 2012

Energy sector weathers political crisis with minor delays

Amidst a political breakdown, DPM Shahristani is taking a larger role, and the fourth bidding round and the start-up of new export infrastructure have been set back.

Dec 22, 2011

Q&A: Hussain al-Shahristani

The government's top energy official discusses ExxonMobil's options, fourth bidding round contract models, and federalism.