State company says Baghdad fuel queues gone after ministry admitted supply gap

BAGHDAD — Queues at fuel stations have disappeared and gasoline is being delivered smoothly, Iraq’s state-owned Oil Products Distribution Company said Friday, days after the Oil Ministry acknowledged a production shortfall of up to 5 million liters per day.

Director general Hussein Talib conducted an inspection tour of several Baghdad fuel stations early Friday, confirming that fuel was available at all stations and that congestion had ended. “The product is available at all stations,” he said, adding that a direct-entry system for vehicles was now in place to ensure smooth refueling.

The announcement follows a turbulent week of official messaging. On Tuesday, the ministry described the gasoline crisis as “fabricated,” saying daily production had reached 31 million liters against consumption of 32.5 million liters. By Thursday it had reversed course, acknowledging that a foreign company’s withdrawal from a southern refinery project over security concerns had cost between 4 million and 5 million liters per day of high-octane gasoline production, while consumption had hit a record 35 million liters on Wednesday against output of around 30 million liters.

Throughout the episode officials sought to limit public concern. On May 27, ministry spokesperson Sahib al-Bazoun cited strategic reserves of around 100 million liters. On Wednesday, Talib described congestion as a temporary distribution problem that would be resolved within four days.