Iraq Energy Information

Iraq Energy Research

- Iraq's Energy & Climate Policy Framework: Iraq aims for 33% renewable energy in its power mix by 2030, with the Ministry of Electricity overseeing sector modernisation. The oil-dependent economy is diversifying under the Integrated National Energy Strategy (INES), while OPEC+ agreements cap production. Renewable targets face challenges, and climate pledges include reducing emissions and investing in green energy.

- Iraq's Energy Companies: Iraq's energy sector is state-dominated, with INOC overseeing oil companies and the Ministry of Electricity managing power generation, transmission, and distribution. Key oil fields are operated by international firms like BP, Eni, and Lukoil, while gas production is handled by regional state-owned companies. Privatisation efforts are underway in the electricity sector.

- Iraq's Energy Supply & Demand: Iraq's energy sector relies heavily on oil (75% of consumption) and gas (54% of power mix), with significant reserves. Electricity generation has grown rapidly, but blackouts persist. Oil production is constrained by OPEC quotas, while gas flaring remains high. The country imports gas to meet demand and aims to expand export capacity. GHG emissions are rising, driven by fuel combustion and methane leaks.

- Iraq's Energy Use & Price by Sector: Oil dominates energy use (69%), but gas and electricity shares are rising. Transport is the largest consumer (48%), with industry and residential sectors following. Energy demand has grown rapidly since 2016, with significant price fluctuations.

- Iraq's Issues & Prospects: Iraq plans to double oil production to 8mb/d by 2027 and expand energy infrastructure, including nuclear, gas, and solar projects, with significant investments totalling USUSD 620bn by 2030. Key initiatives involve increasing power capacity to 44GW by 2025, developing 11GW of nuclear energy, and enhancing regional electricity interconnections.

Iraq Total Energy Production & Consumption

Total energy consumption has increased rapidly from 2015 to 2023 (+7%/year), and has remained stable since then, reaching 68 Mtoe in 2025.

Total energy consumption per capita amounted to 1.44 toe/capita in 2025, i.e. a 2%/year decrease since 2023.

Graph: Primary Consumption Trends by Energy Source

Source: Iraq energy report

Interactive Chart Iraq Total Energy Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Iraq Oil Production & Consumption

Constrained by OPEC quotas, Iraqi oil production has decreased by an average 3%/year since 2022. It had previously rebounded by 10% in 2022 to 220 Mt, after remaining stable in 2021 and dropping by 14% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It had previously been increasing rapidly over 2010-2019 (+8%/year), with a major boost in 2016 (+27%). This was mainly due to increased output at fields in southern Iraq and in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, which more than offset disrupted volumes in the north.

The share of Iraq in OPEC's oil production has remained stable since 2019 (14%).

Source: Iraq energy report

Interactive Chart Iraq Crude Oil Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Interactive Chart Iraq Refined Oil Products Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Iraq Natural Gas Production & Consumption

Marketed gas production surged to 14.6 bcm in 2025, after a stable period since 2021. It grew by 30% in 2021 after a 36% decrease in 2020 and had increased very rapidly from 2015 to 2019 (14%/year). The entire production is used domestically, mainly in the power sector.

Gas consumption, despite fluctuations, has followed an average 3%/year growth rate since 2020. Between 2015 and 2020, it had tripled, mainly thanks to the rise of imports from Iran since 2017.

Source: Iraq energy report

Interactive Chart Iraq Gas Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Iraq Renewable in % Electricity Production

In 2021, the MoE announced the country's ambition to raise the capacity of clean energy to 12 GW by 2030, corresponding to 33% of the power capacity mix thanks to a sharp increase in solar capacity (5% of renewables in the power mix in 2025, mostly hydro).

In 2017, the MoE launched the Renewable Energy Investment Program with a target of 2 695 MW of solar for 2020. The target was far from met as only around 40 MW was reached in 2020 (still 64 MW in 2025).

Source: Iraq energy report

Interactive Chart Iraq Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Iraq GHG emissions and CO₂ emissions

In its new NDC submitted in 2025, Iraq commits to reduce its GHG emissions by 22% by 2035 (compared to BaU), of which 17% are conditioned on international support. Priorities like stopping gas flaring and expanding renewable energy to 8.5% by 2030 matched with overall other policies announced in the energy sector.

Source: Iraq energy report

Interactive Chart Iraq CO₂ emissions

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data