This thesis proposes a model for a sustainable value chain of petroleum products in Iraq that addresses the critical challenge of balancing economic development with environmental and social sustainability in the country’s petroleum sector. Using a mixed qualitative and quantitative methods approach, this research identifies the key antecedents, components, and consequences of implementing sustainable practices in the Iraqi petroleum value chain.
In this study, 80 respondents from Iraqi oil and gas companies were surveyed and in-depth interviews were conducted with industry experts. Data analysis was conducted using MAXQDA software for qualitative data. The results indicate that political-legal factors, economic conditions, and technological innovation capacity are the most important antecedents affecting the development of a sustainable value chain. The current implementation of sustainable management practices varies across the value chain, with the downstream sector generally performing better than the upstream and midstream sectors.
The study confirms significant positive relationships between sustainable management practices and all three dimensions of sustainability performance (economic, environmental, and social), with organizational ambidexterity playing an important mediating role. Based on these findings, the thesis proposes an integrated sustainable value chain model that considers economic, environmental, and social considerations in the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the oil value chain. The study concludes with practical recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and future researchers to promote sustainability in the Iraqi oil sector. These recommendations include developing comprehensive regulatory frameworks, implementing cleaner production technologies, strengthening supply chain management, improving end-of-life management, and fostering organizational capabilities that balance efficiency and innovation.