Basra drivers face third week of premium fuel shortages after halt to imports
BASRA — Drivers in Basra say they are spending hours moving between filling stations in search of premium gasoline as a shortage stretches into its third week, leaving many unable to fill their tanks.
Gas station owners told 964media the problem began after around 120 stations stopped buying fuel from the Karbala refinery because of transport costs, following the halt of direct imports that previously arrived through Basra’s ports at lower prices. They said profits from a single tanker “do not exceed 750,000 dinars (about $528),” making deliveries unviable once transport fees are included.
On Nov. 4, 2025, Iraq halted imports of gasoline, liquefied gas and kerosene after announcing it had reached self-sufficiency in fuel production, a move officials said followed refinery expansions and higher output that now allow the country to meet domestic demand without foreign supplies. A final shipment of imported gasoline from earlier contracts is en route to Iraq and is expected to ease pressure and improve supplies in the coming days.
Although the Basra refinery is a core supplier for southern Iraq, its current output does not meet growing demand in a governorate where industrial, construction and commercial activity is expanding and the population is nearing 5 million. That has kept Basra dependent on continued premium gasoline supplies from Karbala.
Private station owners, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they work closely with the Oil Products Distribution Company and the Oil Ministry, said “stopping imports and relying only on Karbala refinery supplies is the main reason for the shortage,” adding that Basra’s allocation of premium gasoline has dropped. They said profits on each tanker are limited even before factoring in long-distance transport from Karbala to Basra and high operating costs, pushing many private stations to refuse road shipments.
Iraq sells three types of gasoline based on octane rating: normal, premium and super. Normal gasoline is government-subsidized and the least expensive, while many drivers prefer premium or super for better engine performance and are willing to pay more when it is available.
In a statement, the South Distribution Authority said premium gasoline remains available in large quantities at several government stations, including Thaghr Al-Basra, Izz Al-Din, Al-Sayyab, Shatt Al-Arab and Al-Huwair. It said regular gasoline and diesel are available at all government and private stations, and that the Oil Products Distribution Company will continue monitoring conditions in the field “to maintain supply and meet public needs across all areas.”
