What are the consequences of basing the budget on an oil price of $55?
What are the consequences of basing the budget on an oil price of $55?
4-17-2025
Information/Exclusive:
Economic analyst Abdul Rahman al-Mashhadani warned on Thursday of the repercussions of basing the oil price at $55 per barrel on the general budget law. He noted that this measure will lead to a financial deficit exceeding 80 trillion dinars, threatening a stifling economic crisis in the country.
Al-Mashhadani told Al-Maalouma, “Adopting a price of $55 per barrel in the budget is unrealistic in light of the ongoing fluctuations in global markets, and could result in a huge financial deficit that would exacerbate Iraq’s economic and financial crises.”
He added, “Some experts believe that reducing the price of oil to $55 per barrel could increase the fiscal deficit, reflecting the inaccuracy of this budgeting mechanism.” He emphasized that “continuing this approach could lead Iraq to a real economic catastrophe.”
Al-Mashhadani pointed out that “the only solution lies in the government’s deliberate reduction of operating and investment expenditures and its efforts to diversify sources of income instead of relying entirely on oil revenues.” He called for “the development of a comprehensive economic reform plan that relies on the private sector, agriculture, industry, and tourism as alternative and sustainable sources.”
A number of experts suggested that calculating the price of a barrel of oil at $55 is the most appropriate option to address the current financial crisis, given the realism it provides in the estimates and the avoidance of falling into a larger budget deficit.
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