Oil giants pull staff from Iraq amid regional escalation
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Basra Oil Company (BOC), Iraq’s main state-run firm managing oil and gas operations in the south, announced Monday that several subcontracting companies - including British energy giant BP and French multinational Total - have “partially or temporarily” evacuated foreign staff amid rising regional tensions.
In a statement, BOC noted that “some companies operating in its oil fields” have “temporarily evacuated some foreign personnel,” particularly BP, which operates in the Rumaila field west of Basra.
BOC emphasized that the evacuation has had “no impact on the production process,” stating that Iraqi personnel are fully managing operations and monitoring processes in cooperation with remote operators.
The statement added that in addition to BP, the Italian energy company ENI has also significantly reduced its foreign staff, from 260 to 98 employees, most of whom are currently working in the Zubair oil and gas field southwest of Basra. Similarly, French energy giant Total has “evacuated 60 percent of its personnel as a precaution against any emergency.”
Meanwhile, “the Chinese companies managing West Qurna 1 [oil field, northwest of Basra], the Siba [gas field, southeast of Basra], and the Faihaa oil field [north of Basra], have not evacuated any foreign staff, and operations are said to be proceeding smoothly.” Russian company Lukoil, which operates the West Qurna 2 oil field, has also reported no evacuation of foreign personnel.
The evacuations come amid escalating regional tensions following Israel’s June 13 airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which killed several senior military commanders and provoked retaliatory attacks from Tehran. In response, Iran launched several waves of missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets.
In a significant escalation, the United States conducted airstrikes on Sunday targeting Iran’s three main nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
In the aftermath, Iranian officials have warned of a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation - a move that would have severe consequences for global energy markets.
Located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. Each day, approximately 17 to 18 million barrels of oil - around 20 percent of the world’s supply - flow through the strait.
For Iraq, such a closure would be devastating. Approximately 90 percent of Iraq’s oil exports, averaging 3.27 million barrels per day (bpd), pass through the Strait.
Given that over 91 percent of Iraq’s federal budget relies on oil revenues, a blockade could result in an immediate economic collapse due to the near-total disruption of its primary income stream.
BOC’s Monday announcement comes amid unconfirmed media reports that some 4,860 foreign workers from oil companies operating in Basra have left due to the escalating conflict and in anticipation of further Iranian retaliation following the US strikes.
In a statement, BOC noted that “some companies operating in its oil fields” have “temporarily evacuated some foreign personnel,” particularly BP, which operates in the Rumaila field west of Basra.
BOC emphasized that the evacuation has had “no impact on the production process,” stating that Iraqi personnel are fully managing operations and monitoring processes in cooperation with remote operators.
The statement added that in addition to BP, the Italian energy company ENI has also significantly reduced its foreign staff, from 260 to 98 employees, most of whom are currently working in the Zubair oil and gas field southwest of Basra. Similarly, French energy giant Total has “evacuated 60 percent of its personnel as a precaution against any emergency.”
Meanwhile, “the Chinese companies managing West Qurna 1 [oil field, northwest of Basra], the Siba [gas field, southeast of Basra], and the Faihaa oil field [north of Basra], have not evacuated any foreign staff, and operations are said to be proceeding smoothly.” Russian company Lukoil, which operates the West Qurna 2 oil field, has also reported no evacuation of foreign personnel.
The evacuations come amid escalating regional tensions following Israel’s June 13 airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which killed several senior military commanders and provoked retaliatory attacks from Tehran. In response, Iran launched several waves of missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets.
In a significant escalation, the United States conducted airstrikes on Sunday targeting Iran’s three main nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
In the aftermath, Iranian officials have warned of a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation - a move that would have severe consequences for global energy markets.
Located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. Each day, approximately 17 to 18 million barrels of oil - around 20 percent of the world’s supply - flow through the strait.
For Iraq, such a closure would be devastating. Approximately 90 percent of Iraq’s oil exports, averaging 3.27 million barrels per day (bpd), pass through the Strait.
Given that over 91 percent of Iraq’s federal budget relies on oil revenues, a blockade could result in an immediate economic collapse due to the near-total disruption of its primary income stream.
BOC’s Monday announcement comes amid unconfirmed media reports that some 4,860 foreign workers from oil companies operating in Basra have left due to the escalating conflict and in anticipation of further Iranian retaliation following the US strikes.