Foreign Oil Firms Evacuate Staff from Southern Iraq Amid Regional Tensions
In response to escalating regional tensions, foreign oil firms such as BP and TotalEnergies have evacuated some of their international staff from southern Iraq, the state-owned Basra Oil Company announced on Monday. Despite these evacuations, oil operations in Basra province, which is responsible for the majority of Iraq’s crude oil production, continue to function without interruption.
An official from the Basra Oil Company cited the current “security situation” in the region as the reason for the evacuations. British energy giant BP withdrew personnel from the Rumaila field, one of the largest oil fields in the region. However, operations are being managed remotely by Iraqi staff in collaboration with BP to ensure continued production.
Italian firm ENI has also reduced its staff from 260 to 98 employees, while France’s TotalEnergies evacuated 60% of its personnel as a precautionary measure. On the other hand, Russian oil giant Lukoil and Chinese companies have chosen not to evacuate their staff.
Iraq, a key member of OPEC, heavily relies on revenue from crude oil sales, which make up 90% of its budget. With the recent Iran-Israel conflict raising concerns about potential spillover into Iraq, a country with a US military presence and strong Iranian influence, the region remains on high alert.
Following US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, an Iranian official warned that any bases used in these attacks would be considered legitimate targets. Iran-backed factions in Iraq have also threatened US interests if the country aligns with Israel in the conflict. Iraq’s complex relationships with both Tehran and Washington have made it a focal point for proxy conflicts in the region.
