Iraq’s Energy Self-Sufficiency Progress, Constraints, and Policy Risks
Thamir Abbas Al-Ghadhban
On 4 November 2025, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani announced that Iraq had achieved self-sufficiency in key petroleum products, presenting the development as an important step toward genuine energy independence. He subsequently ordered the cessation of imports of gasoline, gas oil, and kerosene, while directing that surpluses be exported on the grounds that domestic production had exceeded local demand. In a separate announcement, the Prime Minister forecast that Iraq would end gas imports by 2028.
Before the November 2025 directive, Iraq imported approximately 6-8 milion liters of gasoline per day to supplement domestic supply and meet consumption of more than 30 million liters per day. Six months later, the country experienced severe gasoline shortages as demand rose above 34 million liters per day. The new government of Al-Zaidi was therefore compelled to resume imports at a time of exceptionally high prices and significant difficulty in securing supplies.
