Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. LIV

No 50

12-Dec-2011

Why Iraq’s Numbers Never Add Up: Solving The Mystery

By David Isaak

Dr Isaak is Senior Consultant on Iraq at FACTS Global Energy (FGE).

Under Saddam, Iraqi data were scarce and untrustworthy, especially following the 1991 Gulf War. The Iraqi oil industry has always been secretive, and the sanctions and controls on exports encouraged smuggling – not only government-sponsored smuggling, but also illegal cargoes of a more...