Since the discovery of oil in the middle east in 1908, western powers have sought dominance over the regions resources. Cia world fact book, 2004iraq wikisource, the free. Oil is iraq s economy in a 2003 background analysis, eia reported that the iran iraq war, the kuwait war and punishing economic sanctions had greatly deteriorated iraq s economy. The iraq war did have an oil agenda underlying it, one that vogler had previously denied.
Iraqs iraq national oil company inoc was an early leader in international oil policy and could play a similar role in the future. Iraqs hitherto agrarian economy underwent rapid development following the 14 july revolution overthrowing the hashemite iraqi monarchy, becoming the thirdlargest economy in the middle east by 1980. Us slashes iraqi oil imports world news the guardian. Iraqi oil minister abdul karim alluaibi holds a jar of crude from the newly discovered dima oil field in missan province during a press conference. Set up in 1996, the oil for food scheme allows iraq to. Just a fraction of iraq s known fields are in development, and iraq may be one of the few places left where vast reserves, proven and unknown, have barely been exploited. This paper examines the history of iraqs oil industry from world war i to 1972. Iraq is chiefly an agricultural country, but the development of its oil reserves in the latter half of the 1900s transformed the economy.
Iraqs southern oil exports fall for third month in march. Oil and politics in occupied iraq, goes well beyond. Oil exports from southern iraq have fallen by 70,000 barrels per day bpd this month, according to shipping data and an industry source, suggesting opecs secondlargest producer is. Iraq and iran boosted crude exports in september, taking advantage of a slower pace of shipments from rival saudi arabia to win buyers in key markets like china and the u. Iraq exports of crude oil and petroleum products by. To the fury of the iraqis and the french, it held down production to maximize profits. It has been affected by changes in governments, by wars, and by general instability.
After a long history of wars and sanctions, iraq reemerged as a critical source of oil in recent years. Vogler describes the prewar oil planning and the important. After hostilities ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraqs largely staterun economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides roughly 85% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings, and is a major determinant of the economys fortunes. Apr 25, 2020 iraqs top 10 exports accounted for 99. Iraqs oil exports in june near may level, oil minister says. Oil industry in iraq faces setback to revival the new york.
A further, remarkable development was kuwaits theft of oil from rumaila field by slantdrilling drilling at. This page provides iraq exports actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Discover librarianselected research resources on oil and the middle east from the. Prior to december 2015, crude oil exports were restricted to. Iraqs seizure of kuwait in august 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in january 1991 drastically reduced economic. Aug 20, 2002 under the unsponsored oil for food programme, humanitarian projects are funded from iraqi oil exports. Iraq was the worlds 5th largest oil producer in 2009, and has the worlds fifth largest proven petroleum reserves. Exports to the united states account for 17% of total iraqi exports. In 1960, iraq became a founding member of the organization of petroleum exporting countries opec. Saddam hussein, president of the republic of iraq, on the iraqiranian conflict, before the third summit meeting of the islamic conference, 1922 rabiial awal, 1401, 2528 january, 1981, saudi arabia, by saddam hussein multiple formats at. Just a fraction of iraqs known fields are in development, and iraq may be one of the few places left where vast reserves, proven and unknown, have barely been exploited. Energy and national security experts, including an official from the international monetary fund, discuss financial challenges facing countries in the middle east and africa related to low oil and.
In 1996, iraq revved up production when it agreed to participate in the u. Factbook photos obtained from a variety of sources are in the public domain and are free. History should accurately reflect an oil agenda for the iraq war of providing iraqi oil to israel. A brief history of iraqi oil and its future al bawaba. This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends. Iraq itching to boost oil exports, seize iranian market share. Ferruh demirmen examines western influence in iraq s oil industry, from the creation of the turkish petroleum company in 1911 by the uk, the netherlands and germany to the entry of us oil giants after world war i. In the middle east, real gdp growth strengthened in 2003, reflecting higher oil production and high crude prices. Exports in iraq increased to 87260 usd million in 2018 from 57559 usd million in 2017. List of books and articles about oil and the middle east online. Iraqs oil exports from fields owned by the central government in baghdad are at around 3. Iraqi fuel oil exports averaged around 65,000 bd in 2017, although the volumes fluctuated over the year, hitting a high of 106,000 bd in october and low of just 8,000 bd in december, according to jodi data.
The iraqi government received its third tranche of funding from its 2016 standby arrangement sba with the imf in august 2017, which is intended to. Gary vogler is president of howitzer consulting, llc. Crude oil production in iraq decreased to 4620 bbld1k in september from 4650 bbld1k in august of 2019. However, the country hopes to raise production to 12 million barrels per day over this period based on all deals it was negotiating. In this excerpt from his book british foreign policy during the curzon period. Under the unsponsored oil for food programme, humanitarian projects are funded from iraqi oil exports. Iraq s contracts with major oil companies have the potential to further expand oil exports and revenues, but iraq will need to make significant upgrades to its oil processing, pipeline, and export infrastructure to enable these deals to reach their economic potential. Unrest in iraq reminds us of geopolitical risks to oil. Mounting iraqi production helped to ease world oil prices despite the tightening. Oct 09, 2017 iraq and iran boosted crude exports in september, taking advantage of a slower pace of shipments from rival saudi arabia to win buyers in key markets like china and the u. Auzanneaus oil, power, and war is a fascinating and excellent book. Dec 05, 2018 iraqs oil exports dropped to a sevenmonth low in november. Iraqs contracts with major oil companies have the potential to further expand oil exports and revenues, but iraq will need to make significant upgrades to its oil processing, pipeline, and export infrastructure to enable these deals to reach their economic potential. Lifting the ban has allowed efficiencies in the market to occur which benefits world.
Jan 02, 2020 in the 1980s, iraq engaged in an eightyear war with iran that disrupted oil production and exports. Iraq exports of crude oil and petroleum products by destination. Relatively small volumes of crude oil are also transported by truck or pipeline to turkey. However, lately iraq has been producing and exporting record amounts. Oil is iraqs economy in a 2003 background analysis, eia reported that the iraniraq war, the kuwait war and punishing economic sanctions had greatly deteriorated iraqs economy. Iraqs oil exports dropped to a sevenmonth low in november.
From december 2006 to september 2011 he was a senior oil consultant for us forces in iraq, and before that he served as deputy senior oil advisor, cpa, for baghdad, and as senior oil advisor. After the initial destruction of the war, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and the restoration of damaged facilities. Iraqs oil exports in june near may level, oil minister. The west qurna 1 field, developed by exxon mobil, and south oils luhais. The second is the continued growth in oil exports from iraq, with sales in july from the whole of iraq, including the semiautonomous kurdistan region of iraq kri, averaging 4. Iraq was a founding member of the cartel of the organization of petroleum exporting countries opec and was among the first oil producing countries to nationalize some of its oil fields in 1961. Iraq and the politics of oil is a fascinating behindthescenes account of the role of the us government in the iraqi oil sector since 2003. Ferruh demirmen examines western influence in iraqs oil industry, from the creation of the turkish petroleum company in 1911 by the uk, the netherlands and germany to the entry of us oil giants after world war i. In the 1980s, iraq engaged in an eightyear war with iran that disrupted oil production and exports. Us buys up iraqi oil to stave off crisis world news. Weeks before a prospective invasion of iraq, the oilrich state has doubled its exports of oil to america, helping us refineries cope with a debilitating strike in venezuela. But while doing research for a book about his experience in iraq, vogler.
Decade year0 year1 year2 year3 year4 year5 year6 year7 year8 year9. The iraqi oil minister, hussain alshahristani, estimated that iraq will be able to produce 6m barrels a day by 2017 based on the deals announced to december 2009. Baghdad, iraqs oil exports from southern ports rose to more than 3. In 2014 the eia reported that iraq held the fifthlargest proven crude oil reserves in the world, and was the secondlargest crude oil producer in opec. Jun 22, 2017 iraq s oil exports from fields owned by the central government in baghdad are at around 3. This book is his attempt to set the record straight. Sep 01, 2016 baghdad, iraqs oil exports from southern ports rose to more than 3. During the last five years the exports of iraq have decreased at an annualized rate of 5. Imports from iraq of crude oil thousand barrels per day decade year0 year1 year2 year3 year4. But then much of the story of the usuk invasion and occupation is a. Oil constituted half of iraqs gdp and the bulk of government revenues, so a collapse in oil prices was catastrophic for the iraqi economy. Jan 06, 2020 relations between the us and iran worsen in may 2019, when the us tightens the sanctions targeting irans oil exports. May 09, 2012 in a remarkable shift, iraq s oil exports jumped by 20 percent since january, and the country exported more oil in april than in any month since saddam hussein invaded kuwait in 1990.
Lead was the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 224. Jan 31, 2020 in 2014 the eia reported that iraq held the fifthlargest proven crude oil reserves in the world, and was the secondlargest crude oil producer in opec. Us buys up iraqi oil to stave off crisis world news the. Mar 23, 2018 oil exports from southern iraq have fallen by 70,000 barrels per day bpd this month, according to shipping data and an industry source, suggesting opecs secondlargest producer is heading for a.
In a remarkable shift, iraqs oil exports jumped by 20 percent since january, and the country exported more oil in april than in any month since. This occurred in part because of the iraqi governments successful. Iraq s economy is heavily dependent on crude oil export revenues. This page provides iraq imports actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Iraqi oil production has surged after years of disorder. Researchers, diplomats, and journalists seeking to understand the complex issues and problems related to iraq ought to read the economy of iraq. In early 2006, iraqs oil production rates averaged around 2. Impact of a middle east oil export disruption by verleger, philip k. Iraq and iran boost oil exports in sales battle with saudis. Iraq is believed to have more oil than any other country in the world, save saudi arabia. In late 2009 iraq held a series of auctions for production service contracts at the largest fields.
Since a ban on crude oil exports was lifted at the end of 2015, u. Jun 14, 2014 after a long history of wars and sanctions, iraq reemerged as a critical source of oil in recent years. Iraqs oil production has nearly doubled over the past. Iraqs crude oil production had been recovering, producing a. Imports from iraq of crude oil thousand barrels per day. Weeks before a prospective invasion of iraq, the oil rich state has doubled its exports of oil to america, helping us refineries cope with a debilitating strike in venezuela. Exports to embargoed or sanctioned countries continue to require authorization. Vogler gives us an expert insiders view of the largest oilfield auctions in the history of the international oil industry, and his account shows how us forces focus on a single iraqi point of failure in 2007 was a primary factor in the record productions and exports of 2012 through 2017. Iraq and iran boost oil exports in sales battle with. Relations between the us and iran worsen in may 2019, when the us tightens the sanctions targeting irans oil exports.
Market sources said shell has been a major buyer of iraqi fuel oil. Following world war i, france acquired a mandate over the northern. Oil industry in iraq faces setback to revival the new. The book provides good background on the early history of oil development with discussion. Set up in 1996, the oil for food scheme allows iraq to sell oil to buy food and medicine and. Panelists talked about oil production and distribution in iraq, as well as challenges facing the industry in postwar iraq. But years of unbacked sanctions, prompted by iraq s invasion of kuwait in 1990, had by 2003 crippled. In response, iran begins a counterpressure campaign. Iraq itching to boost oil exports, seize iranian market. The economy of iraq has fluctuated wildly since the 1950s. Imports in iraq increased to 45736 usd million in 2018 from 38766 usd million in 2017.
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