By John Lee. Platts reports that Iraq plans to launch a new Basrah Medium crude oil grade "whenever logistics allow," to provide "more stability" in existing grades. It quotes Ali Nazar al-Shatari, the Deputy Director General of the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) as saying the new grade will have an API gravity of 29-30 degrees, […]
By John Lee. Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi [Allibi, Luiebi] is to visit Turkey this week to discuss expanding cooperation in the oil and energy sector. Among the topics for discussion will be the possible restarting of oil exports via the Turkish port of Ceyhan (pictured), and the export the Iraqi oil “by SOMO company […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi parliament has reportedly banned Erbil-based Kar Group from operating oil fields in Kirkuk. According to Rudaw, it assigned the state-owned North Oil Company (NOC) to take over oil production in the province and export it through Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO). Reuters reports that Kar Group had been operating some […]
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Reforming and Transforming SOMO This analysis was presented via Skype Conference to the management and staff of Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) on 12th December 2017: Please click here to download […]
By John Lee. Sources have told Reuters that China's state-run Zhenhua Oil will supply diesel (500 parts per million (ppm) sulphur) to Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) through a term contract for the first time. It will supply 600,000 tonnes of the 2.37 million tonnes sought by SOMO in a tender for delivery in […]
By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Iraqi State Organization for Marketing Oil (SOMO) announced Nov. 2 that it is arranging with Turkey to allow SOMO to sell Iraqi crude from the disputed territories […]
By John Lee. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has reportedly confirmed that talks are ongoing between Baghdad and Tehran to export crude oil from Kirkuk to the Kermanshah refinery (pictured) in Iran. SOMO Director Alaa al-Mussawi is quoted as saying that trucks would initially supply 15,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) to […]
By John Lee. Iraq has replaced the head of its State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). Falah al-Amri [Falah Jasim Alamri, Falah al-Amiri], who has been in the top job at SOMO since March 2006, is to become an advisor on marketing and strategy at the Oil Ministry. He is to be replaced at SOMO by […]
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Debating SOMO Transformation New important developments pertaining to or initiated by Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) surfaced during the last few months; they seemed to be integrated components of what was […]
By John Lee. Iraq is considering changing its price benchmark for Basra crude oil sales to Asia. From January, the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) proposes to price relative to Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) Oman futures, rather than the average of Platts’ Oman-Dubai quotes. According to a report from Reuters, this would mark a significant […]
By John Lee. The head of the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has reportedly suggested that Iraq is interested in creating an oil price hedging program that would lock in prices for future trades far in advance. Falah Al Amri is quoted as saying: “We will not rush. This is a long process ... We […]
By John Lee. Reuters reports that following the setting up a new oil trading firm with Lukoil subsidiary Litasco, the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) is considering setting up similar ventures in shipping and oil storage. The news agency quotes the head of SOMO, Falah Alamri, as telling the CWC Iraq Petroleum Conference: “The idea is […]
