By Ahmed Tabaqchali, for the Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS). The opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Iraq's Gas Flaring Paradoxes: Economic and Technical Obstacles
Almost every year, since 2012, Iraq vies with Iran for the second or third-ranked gas flaring country in the world behind Russia. In 2024, it ranked third, for the second year running, with flare volumes of 18.2 billion cubic meters (BCM), accounting for 12% of the world's total.
These wasted resources could contribute to closing the country's growing electricity supply-demand gap, especially considering that Iraq consumed 19.7 BCM of gas in the same year, of which 7.8 BCM were imported from Iran. Such persistent high flare volumes stand in contrast to frequent official declarations that flaring is being seriously addressed and that it will end in a few years, the latest such declaration being that the elusive goal of zero flaring would be achieved by 2028.
Promisingly, this time it has substance; nevertheless, the timeframe is ambitious and a lot can still derail it.
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