Iraq Energy aims to be the leading independent think-tank and research organisation for Iraq on energy policy and related matters. The recent developments in Iraq have highlighted the growing need to establish such Policy Institute to facilitate the sharing of research and information among academia, government, energy sector professionals and media.

Rather than centring exclusively on either the theory or practice of energy policy, Iraq Energy research seeks to synthesise both by drawing together experts from academia, the energy industry, government, the media, and non-governmental organizations.  Our research centre will generate studies and working papers that disseminate up-to-date information and fresh objective analysis on a wide range of topics such as energy policy formulation, energy security, energy geopolitics, energy resource development, emerging energy technologies, science and technology policy, energy and economic growth, energy forecasting, energy and the environment and energy sector regulation all within the specific context of Iraq’s unique resource circumstances.

Our activities will offer analysis, reports, workshops, seminars and lectures on a wide variety of topics related to the above contextually such as global energy geopolitics, energy supply and demand, alternative energy sources, sustainable development, local content, energy and the environment, technological advances, and energy demand trends.  Outstanding scholars and consultants from around the world will have the opportunity to participate and contribute positively to Iraq Energy programs.

Iraq Energy believes that the public perception knowledge-gap is a key issue requiring attention.  This is mainly because of the chronic industrial and commercial isolation Iraq has suffered over the last 50 years due to wars, sanctions and the instability of political regimes. The approach of Iraq Energy is, therefore, to help in revising the current relevant educational curricula in Iraq to create and stimulate a fertile educational ground for future Iraqi generations to lead the way forward.  Seminars, workshops, conferences and publications are just a few of the many tools available to the institute to empower young Iraqi professional to have a say in their future.  Research efforts will focus on enhancing the understanding of the complex political, cultural, religious, economic, and social forces that influence revenues from Iraq’s energy substantial resources while ensuring their equitable distribution.

The key message that Iraq Energy is trying to convey is that energy policy is not only about oil and gas production. Rather, it is about the bigger picture including the integration of national and regional policies for the oil, gas, electricity, water, petrochemicals, and green energy sectors; and the combined implications of these diverse industrial components on the economy, environment and people of Iraq.

A case in point to highlight the pivotal importance of this holistic concept in tackling policy challenges is the issue of gas flaring in Iraq.  Since the discovery of the hydrocarbon reserves in Iraq in 1927, Iraq has been treating gas as a trivial commodity by flaring it with an astronomical loss of nearly $6 billion per year when considering the full value chain due to the lack of technical capabilities and market expertise. Iraq's currently-proven gas reserves are mostly associated with oil (70%),  therefore, an increased production of oil results in an increased production of gas. The existing estimate of flared gas is in excess of one billion cubic feet per day which is equivalent to 175,000 barrels of oil or 6,000 MW of installed electricity capacity. The environmental impact of this internationally discredited practice is no less serious.

Iraq Energy aims to maximise Iraq’s benefits stemming from energy using the best practices from different parts of the world to ensure the long-term sustainable development and positive contribution of this critical sector to the economic and social development of the country.