Baghdad-INA
Ministry of Environment on Tuesday detailed a set of preventive and punitive measures aimed at reducing the impact of environmental pollution, stressing the enforcement of environmental standards on oil companies and efforts to curb gas flaring.
Amir Ali Al-Hassoun, Director General of Awareness and Environmental Media at the ministry, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the ministry is continuing to intensify oversight of chemical-related activities, underscoring the need to comply with environmental regulations to protect public health and prevent chemical pollution.
He added that plant nurseries and outlets selling fertilizers and pesticides are subject to environmental monitoring under existing legislation, given that such materials are classified as having significant environmental and public health impacts if misused or handled unsafely.
He noted that the ministry’s measures include regulatory oversight, the issuance of environmental permits, regular field inspections, and coordination with relevant sectoral authorities to ensure the proper regulation of pesticide and fertilizer trade, and to prevent the import or sale of unregistered or banned substances.
He noted that in cases of environmental violations, legal measures are taken in accordance with applicable laws, including issuing formal warnings, requiring corrective action within a specified timeframe, and imposing fines proportional to the severity of the violation. Activities may also be temporarily suspended or sites shut down in cases of major pollution, with offenders referred to judicial authorities where significant environmental or health damage occurs.
The ministry is also working to develop advanced monitoring systems to improve the accuracy of pollution tracking and enable early response, alongside stricter regulatory and oversight measures targeting the oil sector to mitigate its environmental impact, he said.
Al-Hassoun added that the ministry has already begun deploying and operating modern pollution monitoring systems across several sectors at varying stages of implementation, including air quality, water resources, and industrial and oil sectors. These systems provide real-time data on pollution levels, support rapid environmental decision-making, and issue early warnings when thresholds are exceeded, while also helping to build national databases for environmental planning and policymaking.
He said the ministry aims to expand these systems and link them to centralized control centers to enhance response efficiency and reduce environmental risks.
Oil-related industries are among the primary sources of environmental pollution in Iraq, Al-Hassoun noted, citing key pollutants such as gas emissions – including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides – gas flaring, volatile organic compounds, and oil contamination of soil and water.
While no precise nationwide percentage can be determined, environmental indicators suggest that the oil sector’s contribution to pollution is relatively high, particularly in southern regions where extraction and refining activities are concentrated.
Measures imposed on oil companies include mandatory compliance with environmental standards and management plans, efforts to reduce gas flaring in coordination with relevant authorities and invest it, continuous monitoring programs in oil-producing areas, regular field inspections, and penalties for violations. Companies are also required to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) prior to project implementation, while promoting the use of cleaner technologies and reducing emissions, he said.
