2023-04-13

BASRA - In Iraq, one of the world’s driest and poorest countries, Western oil companies are exacerbating water shortages as they make record profits exporting alternatives to Russian oil in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Pollution, water depletion, and greenwashing: Oil companies and the ecocide in Iraq

Interviews, financial data and exclusive Iraqi government records, show that British oil giant BP, as well as Italian multinationals ENI, are exploiting environmentally disastrous technologies to extract oil in Southern Iraq.

With the production scaling up, an increasing amount of water is being taken from the already depleted rivers in Basra (that accounts for two thirds of Iraq oil total exports) and used in injections to extract oil. An environmental and health disaster is looming over the country if oil companies fail to be held accountable.

The names of some of the journalists involved are not disclosed due to safety reasons.

This investigation won 2nd award in the World Water Day Photo Contest 2024, Storytelling category. 

Photo credit: Daniela Sala

Team members

Daniela Sala

Daniela Sala is an Italian award-winning multimedia journalist.

Daniela Sala

Sara Manisera

Sara Manisera is an independent reporter and author working in the Middle East.

Sara Manisera

Ollie Ballinger

Ollie is a Lecturer in Geocomputation at University College London.

Ollie Ballinger
Supported
€32.950 granted on 22/08/2022
ID
ENV1/2022/092

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  • Oljens pris. Forurensning, utarming av vannressurser og grønnvasking: Oljeselskapenes virksomhet i Irak omtales som økomord. AftenPosten, issue November 2023  

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