Oil & Gas Law

It is obvious that the primary aim of the draft oil and gas law (OGL) prepared by Adnan Janabi et al, is to negate the role of the Federal Government in oil and gas affairs. It is difficult to imagine that the people behind this draft OGL do think that it is in the national interest to make the Regions stronger, and the Center weaker, than they are now. If…

Hydrocarbon Law 2011

Does Iraq still need a hydrocarbon law? According to Tariq Shafiq who co-authored the first version of Iraq’s Oil & Gas Law in 2006, yes it does. So do others including the Kurds who made its enactment one of the conditions for backing Nouri al-Maliki for PM last year, and the latter as well since he agreed to do it within six months of taking office. However, the recent revival…

Tariq Shafiq

Tariq Shafiq is one of the founding fathers, former director, vice chairman and executive director of Iraq National Oil Company (INOC) founded in 1964. He was also a veteran of its predecessor, Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) where he served in various technical capacities since 1954, including as head of petroleum engineering. In this candid interview with IOF editor Ruba Husari, he gives his expert take on the different versions of…