Iraq’s long-delayed oil and gas law remains one of the country’s most important unresolved legislative issues, despite years of discussions and repeated attempts to pass it. The law is widely viewed as essential for regulating the management of Iraq’s oil and gas resources, unifying production and export policies, and resolving ongoing disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Abdul Amir al-Mayahi, head of the Al-Bayan parliamentary bloc, said several important laws are currently under discussion among political parties in an effort to reach agreements that would allow them to move forward in parliament. He stressed that lawmakers consider these legislative files a priority.
According to al-Mayahi, the oil and gas law is among the most significant issues currently being debated. He described it as a complex file that requires both political and legal agreements before it can be approved.
He explained that the coming period will require more dialogue and negotiations among political forces, particularly on laws connected to major economic and administrative matters. He said building consensus is necessary to create the conditions needed for parliament to pass the legislation.
Former minister and Member of Parliament Zuhair al-Jalabi also addressed the issue, noting that concerns regarding the annexation of land from Nineveh Province to the Kurdistan Region have largely been settled. He said provincial boundaries are defined by the Ministry of Planning and can only be changed through a vote in the Council of Representatives approving a new administrative map.
However, al-Jalabi argued that the oil and gas law faces much deeper challenges. While disagreements over disputed territories and ownership of oil fields between Baghdad and Erbil remain important, he believes larger external factors are also contributing to the delay.
According to al-Jalabi, some countries benefit from the current situation, including oil smuggling, corruption, and the lack of a clear legal framework governing the sector. He claimed that certain parties have an interest in maintaining the existing conditions because they serve their political and economic interests.
The oil and gas law is considered critical because oil revenues remain the backbone of Iraq’s economy and the primary source of government income. The absence of a unified legal framework has fueled ongoing disputes over authority, production, exports, and revenue distribution between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region.
Without a comprehensive law, many key aspects of Iraq’s oil wealth remain subject to political disagreements and competing interpretations. Supporters of the legislation argue that its passage would provide greater clarity, strengthen resource management, reduce disputes, and create a more stable foundation for Iraq’s energy sector and public finances.