Methane leaks in Iraq
Satellites have detected 369 methane plumes at 79 sites in Iraq since 2021, 81 of them in the 12 months to 1 Sep 2026.
81
Plumes, last 12 months
79
Sites
188,868 kg/h
Largest plume, last 12 months
18 / 57
Notified sites where the operator responded to UNEP
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Biggest plumes in the last 12 months
| Detected | Site | Emission rate | Likely operator | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 2025Oil & gas | IRQ_S_067 | 188,868 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 31 Oct 2025Oil & gas | IRQ_S_067 | 123,491 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 15 Oct 2025Oil & gas | IRQ_S_067 | 116,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 31 Oct 2025Oil & gas | IRQ_S_067 | 102,475 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 20 Oct 2025Waste / landfill | — | 70,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 29 Apr 2026Waste / landfill | — | 62,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 1 Apr 2026Waste / landfill | — | 62,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 18 Aug 2026Waste / landfill | — | 57,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 3 Jul 2026Oil & gas | — | 39,000 kg/h | North Oil Company Plausible | View |
| 12 Jul 2026Waste / landfill | — | 30,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
Who operates these sites
| Basra Oil Company | 170 plumes |
| North Oil Company | 38 plumes |
Plumes at sites we attribute to each company. Most attributions here rely on who operates a field or region, not on site-level confirmation; see each site for the evidence. What do confidence levels mean?
Plumes by sector, last 12 months
Sites that leak most often
| Site | Plumes, last 12 months | Largest detected rate | Last seen | Likely operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRQ_S_067Pipeline valve | 99 total | 188,868 kg/h | 31 Oct 2025 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_080O&G source (generic) · Frequent | 77 total | 790 kg/h | 24 Aug 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_086Transmission Pipelines · Persistent | 66 total | 1,281 kg/h | 24 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_083Pipeline | 413 total | 2,540 kg/h | 21 Apr 2026 | North Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_035Flare · Frequent | 410 total | 3,847 kg/h | 24 Aug 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_071O&G source (generic) | 44 total | — | 20 Oct 2025 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_090Landfill | 33 total | 1,926 kg/h | 23 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_009Flare | 238 total | 24,570 kg/h | 21 Oct 2025 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_040Flare | 216 total | 7,012 kg/h | 27 May 2026 | North Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_057Landfill | 214 total | 4,311 kg/h | 1 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_064Landfill | 25 total | 4,396 kg/h | 17 Oct 2025 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_074Flare | 24 total | 2,650 kg/h | 17 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_039Landfill | 115 total | 2,584 kg/h | 11 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_058Landfill | 114 total | 2,097 kg/h | 1 Dec 2025 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_008Flare | 18 total | 7,115 kg/h | 13 Sep 2025 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_042Landfill | 17 total | 2,345 kg/h | 23 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_076Landfill | 17 total | 2,517 kg/h | 30 Jan 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| IRQ_S_003Flare | 16 total | 1,867 kg/h | 23 Jul 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_050Flare | 16 total | 24,905 kg/h | 16 Feb 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_021Flare | 13 total | 8,222 kg/h | 29 May 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_079Flare · Frequent | 13 total | 1,738 kg/h | 9 Mar 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_029Pit | 13 total | 2,964 kg/h | 30 Jan 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_019O&G facility (generic) | 12 total | 1,378 kg/h | 13 Apr 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_001Flare | 12 total | 1,645 kg/h | 16 Feb 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
| IRQ_S_088Flare | 11 total | 206 kg/h | 24 Jul 2026 | Basra Oil Company Plausible |
Authorities you can notify
We don't list an authority for Iraq yet. Know one? Tell us through the correction form.
Of 57 sites UNEP notified in Iraq, operators responded on 18.
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