By Padraig O'Hannelly. Dr Ashti Hawrami (pictured), the KRG's Minister for Natural Resources, has clarified the two stage process involved in the recent agreement between Erbil and Baghdad regarding oil exports. Speaking at CWC's Kurdistan-Iraq Oil & Gas Conference recently in London, Dr Hawrami said that the first stage of the resolution covers the issues […]
By John Lee. Reuters reports that Iraq’s oil exports may hit a record high in December. Shipping data for the first 23 days of December suggest that exports from Iraq’s southern terminals have averaged at least 2.6 million barrels per day. Additionally, the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has been exporting about 180,000 bpd of […]
By John Lee. Chinese oil companies are to maintain their purchasing of crude oil from Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) at the 2014 level for next year, according to a report from Reuters. The decision has been attributed to a slowing of demand growth in China, the varying quality of Iraq's "Basra Light" crude, […]
By John Lee. The State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has denied that it is waging a price war against other oil producers. The company recently slashed price to its Asian customers due to what it described as "changes in the market" but has denied that this was an attempt to undercut other members of the […]
By John Lee. Iraq is reported to be giving bigger discounts for heavy crude from Basra from January. The State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) recently abandoned plans to split its "Basra Light" grade into two grades, light and heavy. Reuters says this latest move is aimed at pacifying buyers who have had to deal with […]
By Cengiz Çandar for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Adel Abdul-Mahdi, Iraq’s former vice president and current oil minister in Haider al-Abadi's government, spotted me aboard a flight from Beirut to Istanbul. He was in a rush, on his way back […]
By John Lee. Baghdad and Erbil have reached an agreement resolving the long-running dispute over oil exports and budget payments. Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil would be sent to the Iraqi oil ministry. In return, the Kurds will receive their 17% share of the national budget. The […]
By John Lee. Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has reportedly abandoned plans to sell two grades of crude oil from its southern Gulf terminals next year. Platts reports that SOMO informed customers last week that "due to logistical issues" a single type of crude will continue to be marketed in 2015, but with two […]
By Mohammed A. Salih for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. While a recent deal between Baghdad and Erbil to export oil from the northern fields is seen by many as a breakthrough after years of stalemate, the prospect of further progress […]
By John Lee. Turkish refiner Tupras is to buy crude oil from Iraq Kurdistan sold by the Baghdad's State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO). The company's Deputy General Manager, Hasan Tan, told reporters the oil will be sent by pipeline to the Turkish Mediterranean port town of Ceyhan. The announcement comes a week after Baghdad and […]
By John Lee. Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) has adjusted its official selling prices for its Basra Light and Kirkuk crude grades for December. In common with some other countries, Iraq’s oil is priced relative to regional benchmark prices: For shipments to US, contracts are priced are relative to the Argus Sour Crude Index […]
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani talked to the press following yesterday’s Parliament session hosting the Kurdistan Region Oil and Gas Council. Prime Minister Barzani said the Region would not hand oil control to the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation, SOMO. He noted the federal government cannot export oil […]
