Vehicles queue for fuel in Iraq
Iraq tries again in the downstream
Oft-promised upgrades and greenfield facilities are again making putative progress
Iraq’s vast hydrocarbons wealth and its ability to satisfy the energy needs of its citizens has long been a politically toxic disconnect. The severe power cuts that once again brought long-suffering residents of oil-rich Basra onto the streets in late June have regularly captured the headlines. But a prolonged deficit in fuel provision is another flashpoint. Successive governments have failed to deliver on repeated promises to expand and upgrade the creaking refining sector. Baghdad has launched, relaunched and cancelled sufficient refining schemes—while setting and missing a string of capacity targets—over the past 15 years as to have squandered almost any credibility when pronouncing publ
Also in this section
21 March 2025
Two recent developments raise the prospect of a revival in northern Iraqi oil and gas fortunes, but familiar obstacles could thwart momentum
20 March 2025
As cash-strapped Western governments commit to substantially raising defence expenditure, a similar dynamic is playing out in Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas sector, as Saudi Aramco maintains it heavy capex push despite reduced revenues
20 March 2025
Tariffs, sanctions and trade conflicts are upending the oil market, impacting crude differentials and shipping rates and creating uncertainty
20 March 2025
While advanced economies debate peak fossil fuel demand, billions of people still lack access to reliable and affordable energy, especially in the Global South
