Iraq acknowledges overproduction in OPEC+ and promises compensation

Iraq acknowledged that it had produced 184,000 barrels per day (b/d) above its OPEC+ quota in June, and pledged to offset this surplus by September 2025 through further production cuts.

Share:

Compensation surproduction OPEC+ Irak

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Iraq, OPEC’s second largest oil producer, has regularly exceeded its OPEC+ quota, causing irritation among other alliance members. In a statement, the Iraqi Oil Ministry affirmed its full commitment to the agreement and voluntary adjustments, promising to compensate for any overproduction since the start of 2024.
In June, Iraq cut production by 60,000 b/d to 4.22 million b/d, according to the latest OPEC+ survey by S&P Global Commodity Insights. However, despite a reduction in crude oil exports to 3.299 million b/d, total production, including refining, direct combustion for power generation, inventory movements and production in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, exceeded quota.

Kurdish production challenges

The Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) are at odds over sovereignty over Kurdish oil production, which has led to the closure of the export pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan since March 2023. Prior to this closure, Kurdish production was around 400,000 b/d. Around 50,000 b/d of federal Kirkuk grade production was also prevented from being exported due to the pipeline closure.

Compensation and compliance perspectives

Iraq, Kazakhstan and Russia are the three OPEC+ members required to submit compensation plans for exceeding their quotas throughout 2024. The Kazakh Energy Ministry announced on July 8 that it would submit an updated plan following the publication of June production data in the OPEC monthly report on July 10. Russia has not yet commented on its compensation plans.
The OPEC+ Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and Russia, is due to meet online on August 1 to assess members’ quota compliance, and may also recommend changes to OPEC+ production policy. The full OPEC+ alliance will meet on December 1.
Iraq’s oil production management and its relationship with the KRG will continue to be critical factors in OPEC+ quota compliance and global oil market stability. Compensation commitments and future production adjustments will play a crucial role in balancing oil supply and demand, thus impacting world oil prices.

Venezuelan state oil group PDVSA claims it was targeted by a cyberattack attributed to foreign interests, with no impact on main operations, amid rising tensions with the United States.
BUTEC has finalised the financing of a 50 MW emergency power project in Burkina Faso, structured under a BOOT contract and backed by Banque Centrale Populaire Group.
BW Energy has signed a long-term lease agreement with Minsheng Financial Leasing for its Maromba B platform, covering $274mn of the project’s CAPEX, with no payments due before first oil.
Shell will restart offshore exploration on Namibia’s PEL 39 block in April 2026 with a five-well drilling programme targeting previously discovered zones, despite a recent $400mn impairment.
Iranian authorities intercepted a vessel suspected of fuel smuggling off the coast of the Gulf of Oman, with 18 South Asian crew members on board, according to official sources.
Harbour Energy will acquire Waldorf Energy Partners’ North Sea assets for $170mn, increasing its stakes in the Catcher and Kraken fields, while Capricorn Energy settles part of its claims.
The Big Beautiful Gulf 1 sale attracted more than $300mn in investments, with a focused strategy led by BP, Chevron and Woodside on high-yield blocks.
The United States intercepted an oil tanker loaded with Venezuelan crude and imposed new sanctions on maritime entities, increasing pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s regime and its commercial networks in the Caribbean.
OPEC expects crude demand from its members to reach 43 million barrels per day in 2026, nearly matching current OPEC+ output, contrasting with oversupply forecasts from other institutions.
The United States seized a vessel suspected of transporting sanctioned oil from Iran and Venezuela, prompting a strong reaction from Nicolás Maduro's government.
The International Energy Agency lowers its global oil supply forecast for 2026 while slightly raising demand growth expectations amid improved macroeconomic conditions.
South Sudanese authorities have been granted responsibility for securing the strategic Heglig oilfield following an agreement with both warring parties in Sudan.
TotalEnergies acquires a 40% operated interest in the offshore PEL83 license, marking a strategic move in Namibia with the Mopane oil field, while Galp secures stakes in two other promising blocks.
BOURBON will provide maritime services to ExxonMobil Guyana for five years starting in 2026, marking a key step in the logistical development of the Guyanese offshore basin.
Viridien has launched a 4,300 sq km seismic reimaging programme over Angola’s offshore block 22 to support the country’s upcoming licensing round in the Kwanza Basin.
Shell restructures its stake in the Caspian pipeline by exiting the joint venture with Rosneft, with Kremlin approval, to comply with sanctions while maintaining access to Kazakh crude.
Shell acquires 60% of Block 2C in the Orange Basin, commits to drilling three wells and paying a $25mn signing bonus to PetroSA, pending regulatory approval in South Africa.
Malgré la pression exercée sur le gouvernement vénézuélien, Washington ne cherche pas à exclure Caracas de l’OPEP, misant sur une influence indirecte au sein du cartel pour défendre ses intérêts énergétiques.
Kazakhstan redirects part of its oil production to China following the drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, without a full export halt.
US investment bank Xtellus Partners has submitted a plan to the US Treasury to recover frozen Lukoil holdings for investors by selling the Russian company’s international assets.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.