Foreign Oil Staff Partially Evacuated from Basra Fields Amid Regional Tensions

AFP

Basra Oil Company staff member.

International oil companies BP, Eni, and TotalEnergies have commenced the partial evacuation of expatriate staff from oilfields in southern Iraq, the state-run Basra Oil Company announced on Monday, 23 June 2025.

Despite the precautionary measures, production from Iraq’s southern oilfields remains stable, with crude exports averaging 3.32 million barrels per day, according to two oil officials who spoke to Reuters.

The evacuations come in the wake of U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and heightened hostilities between Iran and Israel. In response, the Iran-aligned Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah has threatened to resume attacks on U.S. forces in the region should Washington continue its involvement in Iran.

“The companies operating in the Basra Oil Company’s fields — particularly BP, which leads operations at the Rumaila field — have temporarily withdrawn some foreign personnel,” the company said in an official statement, adding that the move would not disrupt oil production.

BP has not issued a comment at the time of publication.

Italy’s Eni, which operates under a technical service agreement at the Zubair oil and gas field, has reduced its expatriate workforce from 260 to 98. Basra Oil confirmed that those remaining continue to work alongside local staff without interruption. A company spokesperson previously described the decision as a precautionary measure, noting that the situation is being closely monitored.

French energy giant TotalEnergies has evacuated approximately 60% of its foreign personnel, though Basra Oil stated that operations remain unaffected. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, operations at fields operated by Chinese firms — including West Qurna 1, Siba, and Faihaa — are proceeding without disruption, as no changes to staffing levels have been reported. Activities by Russia’s Lukoil also continue as normal.



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