Abdul Karim Luaibi Bahedh (born 1959) is an Iraqi politician who served as the minister of oil of Iraq between December 2010 and 8 September 2014.

Abdul Karim Luaibi Bahedh
Minister of Oil
In office
December 2010 – 8 September 2014
Prime MinisterNouri Maliki
Preceded byHussain Al Shahristani
Succeeded byAdil Abdul-Mahdi
Personal details
Born1959 (age 64–65)
Baghdad
NationalityIraqi
ChildrenSix
Alma materBaghdad University

Early life and education edit

Luaibi was born into a Shiite family in Baghdad in 1959.[1][2] He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering, which he received from Baghdad University in 1982.[3]

Career and activities edit

From 1982 to 1998, Luaibi worked in several oil companies.[3] He began to work at state-owned South Oil Company in 1982.[4] In 1998, he joined the ministry of oil, and served in different positions until 2009.[5] He was appointed deputy minister of oil in charge with the upstream operations in 2009, and was in office until 2010.[3] During his tenure, he was instrumental in securing the oil and gas contracts with international oil companies and other oil-related agreements with neighboring countries of Iraq.[1]

In December 2010, he was appointed oil minister, replacing Hussain Al Shahristani, to the cabinet headed by prime minister Nouri Maliki.[5][6] Luaibi was part of the Iraqi National Alliance.[7] He acted as the president of OPEC's 162nd ordinary meeting which was held in Vienna on 12 December 2012.[8]

Corruption edit

In March 2016, an investigate report published on the Huffington Post revealed that Luaibi was part of a major corruption ring in the Iraqi oil industry. The report noted that Luaibi played a role in securing oil contracts for foreign oil companies in exchange for bribes.[9]

Family edit

Luaibi is married and has six children.[3][10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Watkins, Eric (3 January 2011). "Iraq promotes al-Shahristani; appoints Luaibi as oil minister". Oil and Gas Journal. 109 (1). Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Iraqi parliament approves new government". BBC. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "Speakers' Biographies". OPEC. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Who's Who in the New Iraqi Cabinet". Iraq Business News. Reuters, AP. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Abdul Kareem Al Luaibi". Arab Industry. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Iraq confirms Luaibi as Oil Minister". Jagran Post. Baghdad. 21 December 2010.
  7. ^ Kenneth Katzman. Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights. DIANE Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-4379-8475-0.
  8. ^ "162nd Ordinary Meeting" (PDF). OPEC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  9. ^ "How The World's Biggest Bribe Scandal Unfolded in Iraq". The Huffington Post. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Biography". Oil Ministry. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
Political offices
Preceded by Oil Minister of Iraq
2010 – present
Succeeded by
Incumbent