Iraq and IOCs: A complex web
Baghdad needs to improve its relationship with international partners. But beware assuming there are easy answers
Reports that Iraq’s tax authority has issued orders to prevent around 20 foreign energy firms from being able to secure visas for their personnel or to import materials, on the grounds of late tax payments, are another jarring reminder of the country’s long-rocky relationship with IOCs. But too many commentators have focused on addressing the ‘one’ reason why IOCs have fallen out of love with Iraq. In reality, it is far more complex. The very fact that various analysts do not agree but hit upon various themes as their preferred main driver—harsh contractual terms, the type of contract on offer, corruption, resource mismanagement or security conditions—is telling. That all these factors have
Also in this section
24 October 2024
Producers in the region see significant gains to be made by boosting output using the infrastructure already in place
23 October 2024
Markets have seen no material disruption from the war so far, but as the fighting goes on it is a matter of when, not if
23 October 2024
Majors in the region are pushing boundaries and could see significant upside, but longer-term risks remain
22 October 2024
Angola is unlikely to meet the official timeline for an IPO of state-owned oil giant Sonangol in 2026