Iraq’s oil boom blamed for worsening water crisis in drought-hit southJournalists Sara Manisera and Daniela Sala write about Western oil companies who are exacerbating water shortages and causing pollution in Iraq as they race to profit from rising oil prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In a nutshellWestern oil companies, including Eni, BP, and ExxonMobil, are exacerbating water shortages and pollution in Iraq as they seek to profit from rising oil prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The extraction process requires large amounts of water, causing a decline in Iraq's water resources as oil exports increase. The construction of dams and water treatment plants by these companies is disrupting the natural flow of water and contributing to water scarcity, displacement, and social instability in the region. Big pictureAs Western oil companies pump large quantities of water into the ground to extract oil, it leads to a depletion of water resources in regions already facing water scarcity.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 05, 2023 19:23 UTC