Independent Chinese Companies Drive Oil Investment Boom in Iraq

A July 2025 file image of Iraq's Daura oil refinery. Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Independent Chinese companies are reportedly crowding into the Iraqi oil sector. Representatives from four Chinese companies recently said their combined output will reach 500,000 barrels per day by 2030, a 100% increase from current levels.

The investment boom comes as smaller Chinese companies are exploring fields seen as too small by large Chinese and Western oil companies. These firms are frequently led by former executives of state-owned companies. They often operate on shorter timelines and provide their own equipment and labor.

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by CGSP Staff

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