Signs now popping up in Baghdad say "the people" are "demanding to link Iraq to the Silk Road." Our Iraq Oil Report story on the origins of this ostensibly grassroots movement to increase Chinese investment in Iraq: iraqoilreport.com/news/china-pos…

Turkish strikes on northeast Syria have targeted energy infrastructure, causing fuel shortages and power outages. They also threaten to reduce crude exports to Iraqi Kurdistan, a primary revenue source for the Syrian Kurdish-led autonomous region. iraqoilreport.com/news/turkish-s…

Tribunal has issued a draft ruling, moving Iraq-Turkey arbitration one step closer to a decision that could undermine Iraqi Kurdistan's ability to export oil independently. Int'l Court of Arbitration still has to review and approve award before it's final. iraqoilreport.com/news/iraq-turk…

Scoop: TotalEnergies has started withdrawing staff from Iraq after a disastrous meeting between CEO Pouyanne and PM Sudani. Death of the $27bn deal would represent a multi-year setback in Iraq’s efforts to boost production of oil, gas, and electricity. iraqoilreport.com/news/totalener…

"The contracts will be signed," says PM Sudani, putting political weight behind gas deals that promise to boost domestic energy production, reduce dependence on costly imports, and diversify Iraq's revenue streams. iraqoilreport.com/news/cabinet-g…

On top of public sector expansion and record-setting spending in draft 2023 budget, Iraq just increased the value of the dinar — "doubling down on all the things that brought a near-death experience in 2020," says Ahmed Tabaqchali. iraqoilreport.com/news/central-b…

Exxon in talks to sell its operating stake in West Qurna 1 to Pertamina and BOC. Big obstacles remain. If it succeeds, deal would resolve ongoing arbitration case... and make PetroChina the operator, further expanding China's role in Iraq's oil sector. iraqoilreport.com/news/talks-adv…

Iraq is losing Mansuriya gas field deal after Sinopec asked for major contract changes. It's a setback for efforts to develop domestic gas and reduce dependence on Iran. Field could soon be included in a new contract licensing round, along with Akkas. iraqoilreport.com/news/mansuriya…

This brings the war in Ukraine home in so many ways. An intimate, richly detailed portrait of five friends whose lives were torn apart. Indispensable and wise correspondence from the talented ⁦Samya Kullab⁩ of The Associated Press. apnews.com/article/0443aa…

Not sure the premise of this article holds water. Lots of good reasons to set Baghdad-Erbil relations on a better foundation — but a failure to do so would really only be a crisis for the KRG. Sudani doesn't need the KDP's votes to get stuff done. reuters.com/world/middle-e…

Iraq signs six final and binding contracts, which were first awarded in 2018, for both gas fields and exploration blocks. Sudani is throwing political weight behind gas development, raising hopes that a new contract licensing round will actually happen. iraqoilreport.com/news/iraq-sign…

Iraq has won its arbitration against Turkey for breaching the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline treaty — a potentially fatal blow to Iraqi Kurdistan's oil sector independence. Here's our Iraq Oil Report detailed analysis of the treaty documents: iraqoilreport.com/news/analysis-…

Iraq's Cabinet has approved a 30% state participation in the $27bn TotalEnergies deal, down from prior demand of 40%. If TE agrees, this could unlock significant oil, gas, and electricity potential. iraqoilreport.com/news/iraq-appr…

Our Iraq Oil Report latest, on the beginning of production at the long-delayed Karbala refinery. it's still not producing the high-octane gasoline that is in high demand in Iraq, though... iraqoilreport.com/news/karbala-r…

If Turkey refuses to restart exports upon the Iraqi Oil Ministry's instructions, it would very likely constitute a further breach of the ITP treaty.

Previously unreported details of the landmark Iraq-Turkey arbitration ruling have big implications for the future of Baghdad-Erbil power dynamics and the trajectory of the KRG oil sector. iraqoilreport.com/news/analysis-…