Turkey says Iraq yet to confirm resumption of Kurdistan oil exports
Dana Gas reports $445 million revenue in 2024
DNO reports 'stellar production' in Kurdistan Region 2024 revenues
Iraqi, Kurdish PMs welcome passage of amendment to federal budget law
Erbil-Baghdad financial talks expected to conclude soon: Ministry
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey has not yet received an update from Iraq regarding the resumption of the Kurdistan Region's oil exports, Ankara's energy minister stated on Wednesday, just days after Kurdish and Iraqi officials indicated the process would restart soon.
Kamal Mohammed, the Kurdistan Region's acting natural resources minister, told Rudaw on Monday that oil exports from the Region will resume next month. However, he emphasized that Turkey's consent is required for the oil to be transferred through its territory. On the same day, the Iraqi oil minister made similar comments, confirming that Kurdish oil exports would restart next week.
However, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated on Wednesday that his country has received 'nothing yet' from the Iraqi side regarding the resumption, when asked about the timeline, according to Reuters.
Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline were suspended in March 2023 following a ruling by a Paris-based arbitration court, which sided with Baghdad. The court determined that Ankara violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by permitting Erbil to export oil independently starting in 2014.
Before the suspension, Erbil was exporting approximately 400,000 barrels of oil per day via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, in addition to around 75,000 barrels of oil from Kirkuk.
In early February, the Iraqi legislature passed an amendment to the federal budget law, increasing compensation to international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the Kurdistan Region. This amendment is seen as key for the resumption of Kurdish oil exports.
Additionally, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Berris Ekinci held several meetings with the senior Kurdish officials on Tuesday to discuss various topics, including the resumption of Kurdish oil exports through Turkey.
The Turkish diplomat lauded the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad on the process of resuming the region's oil exports, "reaffirming Turkey's full support for the process."
The Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and the top Turkish diplomat were also quoted as 'exchanging views on efforts and steps to resume the export of Kurdistan Region's oil,' read a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
UK condemns drone attacks in Kurdistan Region
Also in Iraq Iraq launches probe into Wasit mall fire that killed 63 Iraq holds nationwide mourning after mall blaze kills 61 At least 50 killed, dozens missing in Iraq shopping mall fire Iraqi PM inaugurates Mosul airport on anniversary of city's liberation from ISIS A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The British Embassy in Baghdad on Friday condemned a recent wave of drone attacks in the Kurdistan Region, including strikes that targeted key energy infrastructure, as tensions between Erbil and Baghdad appear to ease following a new financial agreement. 'The UK condemns the recent drone attacks across Iraq, including those this week targeting energy infrastructure in the KRI [Kurdistan Region of Iraq],' the British Embassy said in a statement. 'These attacks threaten civilians' safety, damage Iraq's economy and undermine Iraq's stability.' The embassy urged the Iraqi government to prevent further attacks and hold those responsible to account. In the month of July, there have been at least 19 drone attacks on locations in the Kurdistan Region. Most recently, on Thursday, two explosive-laden drones crashed in Erbil's outskirts, according to the Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD). On Wednesday, the CTD reported drone strikes on two oil fields in northern Duhok province. One hit Norwegian energy company DNO's Tawke oil field, prompting the company to temporarily suspend operations. Gulf Keystone Petroleum, which operates the Shekhan field in southern Duhok, also halted operations as a precautionary measure. A day earlier, a drone targeted the Sarsang oil field northwest of Duhok city, operated by US-based HKN Energy. The company suspended activity pending a security review and full damage assessment. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a charge Baghdad has denied. Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said in a statement on Wednesday that the Region has lost nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production due to the 'spate of drone attacks by criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll.' The Kurdistan Region's Presidency, Council of Ministers, and Ministry of Natural Resources all strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as attempts to cripple the Region's vital oil infrastructure. They called on the federal government to hold the perpetrators to account. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Rudaw Net
4 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
PUK pushes for new KRG cabinet before Iraq's November vote
Also in Kurdistan Child among 4 dead in Sulaimani traffic accident KRG deputy PM calls on Turkey to lift Sulaimani flight ban Bomb-laden drones crash near Erbil following wave of attacks on energy sites Oil companies condemn attacks on Kurdistan Region fields A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Efforts are underway to form the new cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) before Iraq's parliamentary elections in November, more than a year after the vote, a senior Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official said on Thursday. Saadi Ahmed Pira, PUK spokesperson, told Rudaw's Zana Kayani that the July 14 meeting between the leaders of his party and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led to 'closer positions on relations with Baghdad and cooperation with other Iraqi parties.' 'I believe this is a positive step that could help us reach a broader agreement on forming the new cabinet and starting parliament's work,' he said. 'I am hopeful and there is also new breath from the KDP as well to form the new Kurdistan Regional Government and activate the parliament before the Iraqi election,' he added. Although parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region were held on October 20, 2024, negotiations between the KDP and PUK on forming a power-sharing government have dragged on for nearly nine months. The parliament has convened only once in that time. Iraq's parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 11. Pira said the PUK wants meaningful participation in the new cabinet, even if power is not divided equally. 'We believe we are partners. I don't mean 50-50, but the Union should have a presence in power positions and feel that it participates in governance,' he said. In the elections, no single party won a majority, meaning a governing coalition will have to be formed, as has historically been the case. The KDP won 39 spots in the 100-seat legislature, followed by the PUK with 23. The PUK is seeking roles in the Kurdistan Region Security Council and Ministry of Interior, but remains open to alternative proposals from the KDP. Pira warned that the KDP 'should not monopolize power.' The rival parties did cooperate in order to secure a deal between Erbil and Baghdad on the Kurdistan Region's share of the federal budget and payment of public sector salaries, according to Pira. The KRG announced on Wednesday it had reached an understanding with Baghdad over delayed salary payments affecting more than 1.2 million public employees. The agreement followed meetings in Baghdad this week between Kurdish and Iraqi officials. Tensions between Erbil and Baghdad escalated in late May when Iraq's Finance Ministry suspended budget transfers, saying the KRG had received more than its 12.67 percent share and accused it of failing to deliver the agreed volume of oil to the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). The suspension halted salary payments across the Region. Pira said the KDP and PUK need to work better together in light of recent developments in the Middle East. Kurds in northeast Syria (Rojava) are negotiating about their future with Damascus and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is in peace talks with the Turkish government. 'The situation is changing,' Pira said. 'The Kurdistan Region can play a key role in helping other parts of Kurdistan and resolving their issues through peaceful means. If we cannot resolve our own problems, how can other parts of Kurdistan trust us?' The KDP and PUK, while rivals, have shared power in government since the establishment of the Kurdistan Region in the nineties. For the past several governments, the KDP has held the posts of prime minister and president.
Rudaw Net
5 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Syria's Druze seek access to Rojava as Kurds send humanitarian aid
Also in Syria Damascus denies forces re-entered Druze area Syrian forces withdraw from Suwayda after Israeli strikes, rising death toll Syrian army withdraws from Suwayda following deadly clashes Syrian Druze leader vows to continue battle to 'liberate' Suwayda A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria's Druze on Thursday called for the opening of a route to connect them with the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava), as recent attacks by Damascus-affiliated forces on the religious minority in Suwayda have triggered a dire humanitarian crisis. Rojava authorities have expressed solidarity with the Druze and announced plans to send them aid. The Druze spiritual leadership on Thursday said in a statement that they demand "opening of roads towards our Kurdish brothers," referring to Rojava. It also appealed to Jordan to open a border crossing with Suwayda in southern Syria "given the humanitarian importance of these routes in these critical moments." Clashes erupted earlier this week between the Druze and Sunni Bedouin tribes in Suwayda, Syria's predominantly Druze province. The Syrian army intervened and took control of most of the province, which had been under the rule of Druze militants since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. A ceasefire was reached on Wednesday between Damascus and the Druze following US intervention and Israeli support for the minority group. Syrian army withdrew from Suwayda following the truce. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based war monitor which relies on a network of sources within Syria, said on Thursday that nearly 600 people were killed in the clashes. Nearly half of the casualties are residents of Suwayda. The Democratic Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (DAANES), or Rojava, said in a statement on Thursday that "based on our moral and humanitarian duty... we announce that we are sending a batch of urgent humanitarian aid to our people in Suwayda province, who are facing extremely difficult humanitarian conditions as a result of field developments and recent attacks on their areas, which have led to deteriorating living and service conditions." The Kurds in northeast and the Druze in the south have maintained strong ties since the fall of the regime. A large number of people took to the streets of Qamishli in Rojava on Thursday to show solidarity with the Druze community. Mazloum Abdi, chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on Wednesday that they had received appeals from the Druze in Suwayda to "secure safe passages for civilians and to stop the attacks targeting them." The clashes led to the displacement of thousands of people from Suwayda. "The cause of our Druze people is a national issue, and its solution must be constitutional and through resorting to dialogue," Abdi said. Attacks on the Druze included disrespecting the minority group. Footage of Damascus-affiliated fighters forcibly shaving off the moustaches of the Druze people went viral. The Syrian presidency said it was investigating the violations. A resident of Suwayda sent a video of her house to Rudaw on Wednesday, describing their fear and violations committed by Damascus-affiliated security forces. 'We have been besieged in Suwayda. We cannot leave Suwayda at all. Suwayda has been completely besieged. We have also been besieged in the house, and we have been under mortar attacks in a frightening way for three days, meaning the mortar attacks do not cease and there is gunfire and street fighting. Snippers have been placed in all parts of Suwayda,' she noted.
