Iraqis queue for fuel as regional war disrupts imports

Drivers formed long queues at fuel stations in Baghdad on Saturday as gasoline supplies dwindled in Iraq due to disruptions in imports caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. Despite being OPEC's second-largest oil producer, Iraq relies on oil imports for derivatives because its refineries cannot produce enough gasoline to meet domestic demand. Long lines have resurfaced every few days as regional tensions persist, primarily outside government-operated stations in Baghdad and other provinces.

Ibrahim Hashem, a resident of Baghdad, waited for two hours outside a fuel station on Friday without success before returning the next day with the hope of filling his car. "It's unreasonable that we produce so many barrels of oil daily yet still lack sufficient gasoline to meet our daily needs," Hashem told AFP outside a fuel station in central Baghdad. He added that the gasoline shortage has exacerbated traffic congestion and the lack of services on the roads.

According to authorities, Iraq consumes an average of 33 million liters of gasoline daily, but demand surges to 38 million liters when people panic over shortages. The oil ministry stated on Friday that regional events and the ongoing conflict are causing logistical challenges for tanker traffic, delaying their arrival at Iraqi ports. The ministry urged citizens to purchase only the amount of gasoline they need and avoid crowding the fuel stations for minor quantities.

Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair announced on Friday that his ministry was tackling the temporary gasoline shortage and that new shipments would arrive soon to stabilize supplies. Like other oil producers, Iraq has been significantly impacted by the US-Iran conflict, which has blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz. As an oil-dependent economy, Iraq's budget revenues rely heavily on oil exports, which account for about 90% of the country's revenue.

Before the war erupted in February, Iraq produced around four million barrels of oil per day and exported an average of 3.4 million barrels per day, primarily through the Strait of Hormuz. However, after a sharp decline, Iraqi oil exports recovered to over 2.2 million barrels per day by August, according to the oil ministry. Last month, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that Tehran had granted permission to several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through Hormuz over the past six months.