Iraq’s oil ministry has re-shuffled the top position at state oil marketer Somo, this week appointing Ali al Shatari as new director general. The position has been something of a revolving door of late, with Mr Shatari the third to hold the post since the long-serving Alaa al-Yasiri was replaced in early 2023 (MEES, 10 March 2023). Directorships in the Iraqi government are increasingly politicized, and Mr Yasiri’s successors Ammar al-Anbagi, and more recently Khudhyer Abed, were criticized for lacking knowledge of the oil market.
Mr Shatari reverses this trend, given his long career within Somo, market expertise and familiarity with traders and analysts. The new DG served as head of various Somo marketing divisions starting 2009 and as deputy director general from September 2019 to October 2022. He returned to that position in April 2023 after a short stint as deputy director general for state-owned Midlands Refining. (CONTINUED - 234 WORDS)